Monday May 26 / 2008

Monday May 26 / 2008

12:10: The Health Roundup with Jay McQueen.

12:13-12:45: With nearly one in five (or 6 million) Canadians currently experiencing mental illness (two million suffering with depressive disorders and another 300,000 of them with schizophrenia), it is likely that someone in your circle of family, friends or work associates struggles with the effects of such a diagnosis while searching for support along the road to recovery.
Guest: Bill MacPhee, CEO and founder of Anchor Magazine and Schizophrenia Digest. He’s a motivational international speaker and mental health advocate. (in-studio)

12:45: Rexall Radio Health Matters segment.
Guest: Irene Hogan

Homocysteine, Folic Acid, B Vitamins and Cardiovascular Disease!

Homocysteine a cardiovascular risk factor worth considering. At least nine well-known risk factors can help predict the likelihood of heart attacks and strokes; heredity, being male, advancing age, cigarette smoking, high blood pressure, diabetes, obesity ( especially excess abdominal fat), lack of physical activity and abnormal blood cholesterol levels. The more of these risk factors a person has, the greater the likelihood of becoming ill. Heredity, gender and age cannot be modified, but others can be influenced by the individual’s choice. Modifying these factors can lower the risk of having a heart attack. During the past few years, elevated blood levels of homocysteine ( a sulfur-containing amino acid) have been linked to increased risk of premature coronary artery disease, stroke, and thromboembolism ( venous blood clots) even among people with normal cholesterol levels. Abnormal homocysteine levels appear to contribute to atherosclerosis in at least three ways; 1/ a direct toxic effect that damages the cells lining the inside if the arteries 2/ interference with clotting factors and 3/ oxidation of low-density lipoproteins ( LDL) . The connection between homocysteine and cardiovascular disease was suspected about 25 years ago. Recent studies suggest that elevated blood homocysteine levels are as important as high blood cholesterol levels and can operate independently. Abnormal elevation also occurs among people whose diet contains inadequate amounts of folic acid, vitamin B6 and or Vitamin B12. Regardless of the cause of the elevation, supplementation with one or more of these vitamins can lower plasma levels of homocysteine. Lowering the serum concentration of homocysteine has been proven to reduce the risk of adverse cardiovascular events among people with homocystinuria. Many experts believe people with mild elevated homocysteine levels ( 7,8) taking these supplements will help reduce the incidence of heart attacks or strokes.

Rexall Blog Reporter, Nadine Janacek