Heart Health Supplements: Avoid Side Effects of Medication

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Unwanted Side Effects of Pharmaceutical Drugs

Cardiovascular diseases continue to be one of the main causes of death for people in the United States. Doctors routinely prescribe cholesterol and blood pressure lowering medications in order to reduce risk factors for both high blood pressure and heart disease. In some cases doctors may even prescribe medications for uses other than the ones approved by the FDA. This “off-label” way of dispensing medication can be harmful to you. It can also be costly to the manufacturers of the specific medications. However, this does not stop these huge corporations from attempting to expand the uses of their patented drugs.

Bayer and Johnson & Johnson’s Janssen Pharmaceuticals, who manufacture the potent anti-coagulation drug, Xeralto, are facing a growing number of lawsuits claiming Xeralto caused excessive bleeding in various parts of the body. Despite these lawsuits, Xeralto prescriptions continue to rise, reaching over 1 million prescriptions per quarter in the last year. Patients who may have their doctor recommending cardiovascular medication in the near future should be aware of this information. Bayer and Johnson & Johnson are also planning large clinical trials in order to expand the approved use of Xeralto to include cardiovascular issues such as acute coronary syndrome and peripheral artery disease. Considering the already shaky track record of the currently approved drugs for heart disease, this news is especially disconcerting. Here are just a few of the documented side effects of Xeralto:

  • easy bruising or bleeding
  • pain, swelling, or drainage from a wound
  • bleeding from wounds or needle injections
  • bleeding that will not stop
  • headache, dizziness, weakness
  • urine that looks red, pink, or brown
  • bloody or tarry stools
  • coughing up blood or vomit that looks like coffee grounds

Not a very pleasant list at all, is it? And it looks like its use will continue to rise. So if you or someone you know is currently taking Xeralto, you may want to at least explore other alternatives and heart health supplements. If you are one of the very unfortunate people who has already experienced serious complications, there are many different resources across the internet where you can find more info on the Xeralto lawsuit.

In Order to Avoid Medication Side Effects, Invest in Natural Supplements Now

If your heart is in good health and you are fortunate enough not to be taking prescription drugs, it is important that you continue to be vigilant in your heart health. The very best way to ensure you remain medication free into your old age is to take high quality, natural heart health supplements. Many of these supplements, in addition to their heart health benefits, also provide many other benefits to your overall health.

Your doctor is unlikely to discuss heart health supplements, or any other natural dietary supplements with you due to Food and Drug Agency regulations. It is important to consult with a licensed medical practitioner regarding your medications and supplements; however, it is also critical that you are aware of natural alternatives to prescription medication so you can make informed decisions about your own health.

Top 5 Natural Heart Health Supplements

Fish Oil

Fish Oil’s main components, DHA and EPA are Omega 3 fatty acids. These fatty acids are proven to have many heart healthy benefits to those with and without cardiovascular disease. There are thousands of studies documenting fish oil’s cardioprotective benefits. And unlike pharmaceutical drugs, fish oil has shown itself to be very safe for virtually anyone. Specifically the Omega 3 fatty acids in fish oil reduce the risk factors for heart disease, lowered the risk of death from coronary artery disease, and even lowered blood serum triglyceride levels as much as 30%! 

Fish oil works through many mechanisms, for example, increasing heart rhythm and preventing plaque from forming in veins. Fish oil may lower blood pressure and boost plasma levels of “good” HDL cholesterol. Omega 3 fats can reduce inflammation. They are heart protective and can also be effective in other conditions such as arthritis. Supplementing with fish oil and improving the breakdown of Omega 3 fatty acids has also been proven to protect against muscle damage.

Lecithin

Lecithin is a wonderful and cheap source of valuable phospholipids. It is also a rich source of choline. Choline and lecithin supplementation has been shown to create a small reduction in cholesterol. Choline may also lower your risk of future heart problems by lowering homocysteine levels. Choline is the precursor to an extremely important neurotransmitter called acetylcholine. Along with its heart benefits, choline can help improve cognitive function. Now those are the side effects you want in a supplement

Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10)

Coenzyme Q10 levels have been been shown to be lowered in patients with a variety of heart conditions as well as in those using cholesterol-lowering statin drugs. Investigation of CoQ10 spanning over 30 years reveals potential for benefits to a variety of patients. It also assists in heart disease prevention for those who do not yet suffer from these conditions.

Coenzyme Q10 largely acts as an antioxidant throughout the body, but especially within the heart muscle. CoQ10 prevents “bad” LDL cholesterol from oxidizing, therefore reducing its harmful effects on the body. As a result of CoQ10’s ability to reduce oxidative stress as well as stabilizing electrical activity, it’s useful in avoiding damage to the heart.

Garlic

Several studies have recommended that garlic and garlic components can lower blood cholesterol and triglycerides. Garlic can also give a slight boost to the “good” HDL cholesterol. Garlic has strong antioxidant properties. Essentially any substance that is an effective antioxidant has heart protective benefits.

Niacin

Niacin, also called vitamin B3, is involved in fat and carbohydrate metabolism. Niacin is actually a strong vasodilator that improves bloodflow. It is shown to dramatically reduce “bad” LDL cholesterol and triglycerides and increase “good” HDL cholesterol. Substantial heart benefits can be seen with 50-200 mg each day.

Arginine

Arginine is the simplest way to provide the ingredients required to synthesize an incredibly powerful element called nitric oxide that causes dilation of arteries. Additionally, it has healthy effects on blood pressure. Arginine supplementation is even shown to help prevent the vascular dysfunction resulting from a diet consisting of higher fat food.

L-Carnitine

L-Carnitine does not directly improve heart function; however, it is very effective in moving fat into the mitochondria to be burned as energy in the heart. This helps to improve overall heart health, albeit indirectly. Carnitine also helps to improve oxygen consumption in patients with mild ischemia. Doses of 2 grams per day have shown to greatly improve the overall health of those suffering from heart failure as well. Carnitine is also effective at assisting the body’s ability to burn triglycerides as fuel during and after exercise.

As you can see these natural heart health supplements have many proven positive effects on heart as well as overall health. So before you accept your doctor’s recommendation for medication, do yourself a favor and at least investigate the possibility of using natural supplements. Even just one or two of these natural health substances can go a long way in improving your overall heart health, and prevent you from being another statistic in the pharmaceutical industry’s medication side effect victims list.

Justin Arndt
Justin Arndt is the Senior Content Editor at Lose Weight Fast.