Stroke, heart attack, and peripheral vascular disease in the form of leg pain while walking (intermittent claudication), diabetic ulceration and neuropathy are all the result of compromised circulation. By now, most everyone is familiar with the treatment of heart disease: angiography (the visualization of the coronary blood vessels), angioplasty (the opening of narrowed blood vessels by expanding a balloon like device inside of the blood vessel), and coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) surgery. It has been advertised and encouraged by Larry King, David Letterman and others. Strokes have received less press, but the ideal is to work toward preventing the first stroke or heart attack. In the event that one hits a patient then the next line of defense is to prevent the second heart attack or stroke.
New knowledge and information is flooding the medical scene more rapidly than it can be processed. Information of the protective effect of vitamins and herbs, life style changes, exercise and diet are all being debated, both pro and con. Most patients are pro and many doctors are con because of lack of information or a conservatism that no longer serves the patient. The Internet has changed the rules and patients are often ahead of their doctors in fast-breaking knowledge that is still being debated in medical circles.
Should you use vitamin C, vitamin E, vitamin D, omega 3 essential fatty acids (EFA), to prevent heart attack, stroke, amputation, etc., etc.? Is ginkgo biloba really helpful in Alzheimer's Disease patients? Are aluminum and mercury involved with Alzheimer's disease? Are heavy metals implicated in the process of hardening of the arteries? Is it true that infection is the precipitating event beginning hardening of the arteries and that free radical damage follows before other changes? Is it true that the vulnerable plaque (the minimal lesion under the inside tissue of the blood vessel) is responsible for up to 85% of heart attacks and cannot be seen on coronary angiography? Does that mean that our current treatments for heart disease are treating the wrong problem?
On and on the questions come, apparently with no single correct answer or approach. The current trend is to treat everyone the same or to use a "protocol" for, say heart disease. We are all individuals and, unfortunately, "one size fits all" just doesn't work in the treatment of human illness.
Here at Primary Prevention we act as a resource to sort out the information, both accurate and inaccurate, and work with you to help you decide what's in your best interest, after you know all the options. You may intuitively "know" that certain medicines or procedures are not for you, but feel other medicines, along with diet, exercise and supplements may work for you. In his role as neurologist, pain medicine physician, and acupuncturist, Doctor Nash will evaluate you medically and he will also guide you in your quest for information. Doctor Nash uses medications for vascular disease, sleep disturbances, and other medical neurological conditions and attempts to educate you on the latest for your health's interest. He does not take over your medical care from your primary care physician or cardiologist, but givers you as many options as possible to discuss with your principal doctor. One of these options is Chelation Therapy.
Vascular disease prevention is our goal. However, if you already have vascular disease, we'll help you with the best course for you to avoid stroke and heart attack. Our goal is to give you the best quality of life and keep you home with your loved ones, instead of in the hospital or nursing home. Come see us. Working together, we'll help you regain and/or retain your most precious gift, your health.