Abnormal cardiac responses to environmental agents have been noted since the early 1900s. The effect of food on cardiac arrhythmias and angina pectoris has been shown in these early studies. In the 1970s a relationship was established between cardiac responses to fluorocarbons in a study by Taylor as presented in the Journal of the American Medical Academy.
William J. Rea in his article “Environmentally Triggered Cardiac Disease” published in the “Annals of Allergy”, demonstrated the effect of food and chemicals on the cardiovascular system. Symptoms alleviated and reproduced in an environmental control unit of a hospital were:
- Vasculitis
- Phlebitis
- Coronary spasms
- Edema
- Urticaria
Cardiac arrhythmias which can include:
- Tachycardia
- Bradycardia
- Atrial fibrillation
- Premature ventricular contractions
These studies indicated that any organ and any smooth muscle system can be the target for environmentally triggered disease. The genitourinary, respiratory, cardiovascular, and gastrointestinal systems are frequently involved. When the cardiovascular system is involved symptoms can be widespread:
- Vasculitis
- Raynaud’s
- Arthritis
- Arthralgia
- Myositis
- Fibrositis
- Lupus
These disease processes can be part of cardiovascular disease which is related to environmental exposures.
Foods, food additives, and chemicals in air and water, affect cardiovascular disease through the immune system’s response to these incitants. This is the same immune system which protects you from bacterial and viral infections. The environmental incitants affect changes in the number and action of immunoglobulins, complements, eosinophils, basophils, and lymphocytes frequently leading to immune system deficiencies and dysfunction.
The food and chemicals including pesticides, dyes, preservatives, halogenated hydrocarbons, fluorocarbons and formaldehydes can activate immunoglobulin response. Immunoglobulin E can unite with the Mast cell releasing histamine, prostaglandins, and can activate complements causing both bronchospasm and vascular permeability. Immunoglobulin M and T-lymphocytes can unite with complements and form immune complexes activating basophils and neutrophils. Other inflammatory responses can be mediated through platelets and the Hagman Factor leading to the creation of bradykinin. The inflammatory kinins, histamine, serotonin and other inflammatory agents add to the creation of vascular permeability. The result of these immune responses and the creation of several inflammatory mediators cause blood vessel leaking with:
- Edema
- Petechiae
- Bruising
- Purpura
- Urticaria
- Acneiform lesions
Why are some individuals susceptible to the development of non-infectious inflammatory disease?
Certainly the individual’s biological uniqueness is a factor. Another is the body’s inability to maintain homeostasis in the face of the environmental burdens placed upon it. These individuals can not maintain the stability of internal organ functioning in response to changes in the external environment in which they are living. This total body load is the sum total of all the pollutants and contaminants in the air, food and water. This attempt to maintain health and stability in the face of environmental overload is a battle which can result in cardiovascular disease.
The Environmental Health Center specializes in discovering the triggering agents in cardiovascular disease resulting from environmental exposures. Important tools are:
- Initial history and physical
- Review of cardiovascular procedures
- Review of environmental exposures
- Laboratory analyses of immunoglobulins, complements, lymphocytes, C-reactive protein, eosinophils, ANA
- Laboratory analysis of toxic body burden of chemicals and heavy metals
- Review of the timetable of symptoms
- Heart Rate Variability
- Venous Blood Gas
- Skin testing of foods, chemicals, and inhalants
- Charting of symptoms, blood pressure and pulse during skin testing
The Environmental Health Center-Dallas specializes in successfully treating cardiovascular disease with:
- Deep Heat chamber chemical depuration
- Administration of oral and IV nutrient therapy
- Oxygen therapy
- Environmental controls with charcoal air purification of aldehydes and chemicals
- Organic food and glass bottled spring water or filtered water
- Treatment of food hypersensitivities with immunotherapy and a rotary/diversified diet
- Treatment of mold, pollen hypersensitivities with environmental controls including HJHH EPA air purification and immunotherapy
- Treatment of immune deregulation with the self-derived T-lymphocyte modulator developed by the Environmental Health Center – Dallas
- Continued monitoring of laboratory parameters and cardiovascular function
Let the Environmental Health Center make a difference in your cardiovascular health.
The Environmental Health Center-Dallas can offer you proven methods of treating cardiovascular disease.
- Rea, W. J.: Review of Cardiovascular Disease in Allergy. Bi Annual Review of Allergy: pp. 282 347; Claude Frazier (Ed.), 1979 80.
- Rea, W. J.: Environmentally Triggered Cardiac Disease. Annals of Allergy, Vol. 40, No. 4, April 1978.
- Rea, W. J.: The Environmental Aspects of Cardiovascular Disease. Spectum, Vol. XXIV, No. 2, International, pp. 25 30, 1983.
These articles are available through the American Environmental Health Foundation at 214-361-9515 and 1-800-428-2343.