Lecture Notes on Heart Attacks, Strokes, and Clot Prevention

Key Points

Majority of Heart Attacks and Strokes
- Over 80% are caused by clots, not by plaque, cholesterol, or calcium.
- Clots can form in less than 5 seconds and are the actual cause of death in most cases.
Misconceptions
- It is a misconception that arteries filled with cholesterol are the main cause of heart attacks or strokes.

Role of Clots
- Clots are a necessary response to injury, supposed to fix artery holes and then dissolve.
- The real issue to focus on is the hole in the artery.

Non-Cholesterol Triggers
- Inhalation of smoke from cigarettes.
- Environmental pollution and chemicals.
- Alcohol consumption: Considered poisonous to the liver and affects arteries.
- Birth control pills/hormone replacement therapy: Affects arteries due to hormonal interactions, increasing heart attack/stroke risk.
- Stress: Can increase clotting action; "broken heart syndrome" increases heart attack risk by 2,000%.
- Surgery: Puts significant stress on the body.
- Endurance sports, e.g., marathons: Cause stress on the body.
- Refined starches: Diabetics have 4-5 times higher risk for clots due to inflammation.
- Infections: Chronic infections, like dental abscesses, leak bacteria into the body.
Dietary Factors
- High sugar levels in the blood make it sticky and elevate inflammation, increasing clot risk.
- Excess calcium in arteries, especially in postmenopausal women taking high calcium levels.

Nutritional Interventions
- Vitamin K2: Prevents calcium buildup in soft tissues and arteries; found in dairy, butter, and fatty foods.
- Magnesium: Prevents arrhythmias and excessive calcium accumulation.
- Vitamin D: Anti-inflammatory, works with K2, increases nitric oxide.
- L-arginine: Found in meat and liver, boosts nitric oxide.
- Sunlight: Naturally boosts nitric oxide and has overall health benefits.
- Polyphenols: Found in herbs and vegetables, beneficial for heart health.
- Omega-3 Fatty Acids: Naturally thin the blood.
Lifestyle Modifications
- Fasting: Reduces inflammation and risk of clotting.
- Ketogenic/Low-Carb Diet: Anti-inflammatory to arteries.
- Regular Exercise: Non-stressful exercise with adequate recovery prevents clotting.
- Garlic and Onion: Naturally prevent clotting.
Supplements
- Nattokinase: A natural enzyme that reduces clotting.
- Serrapeptase: Extract from silkworms, effective against clots.
- Bromelain: From pineapple, helps reduce clotting.