I'm not the biggest fan of the media, but I have to tell you, this really saddens me. I've always felt Russert was head and shoulders above most journalists today. He asked tough questions and reported with integrity and fairness.

And at 58... that's just too young. Thoughts and prayers for his family.

I just read that a few minutes ago and it was quite a shock. I agree with you on all points, Chris. A loss to journalism (or what's left of it) and very sad for him to die so young and so suddenly.

Janet

I enjoyed his commentary so much on the latest primaries. He will
indeed be missed. A great loss to journalism for sure.

-Ray L.,

What I liked about him is that I never knew if he was left or right on the issues. He was fair and professional. That's the way journalism is supposed to be. He will be missed for sure.

- John

He died from an arterial lesion called a vulnerable plaque. While they've always been there, advances in treating other forms of heart disease are lowering those type of deaths, bringing vulnerable plaque to the forefront.

They're scary. It's like a sore in a coronary artery that can develop into a puss-filled pocket. If it ruptures, as in Russert's case, the fat lady almost always sings. The glob of puss floats on down the artery until it narrows enough that the glob plugs it. Result... massive MI.

Major medical device and pharma companies are spending hundreds of millions for a solution. Currently, there is no good way to detect them and not really anything you can do if you do find one.

This shocked me. He was cut down. Right in the middle of a presidential campaign that was fascinating and thrilling for him, I heard.

I feel so bad for his family. Absolutely heartbreaking.

I was told, the device called "ultrafast computed tomography" can spot Calcified plaque in arteries.

One of my customers had a 95% percent blockage and had a triple bypass.

He was in great shape, he ate great and exercised.

The normal test they do, like the stress test did not show any problems. All the doctors told him he was fine.

He know there was something wrong and insisted on a new type of test that showed the problem (I'll contact him to find out what it's called).

You can eat good and exercise and still get coronary artery disease.

Coronary artery disease is caused by damaged arteries (cracks in the linings). I posted some of the (thought to be) causes in the fitness thread.

There is also a Doctor who has done some stuff and showed on the "ultrafast computed tomography" scanner. Mild Calcified plaque buildup in arteries being removed over time.

If any knows of Life extension international
Life Extension Foundation - Highest Quality Vitamins And Supplements

Get their magazine, they offer a lot of good health advise.

Phil, we're talking about 2 different things. Calcified plaque is not vulnerable plaque. Calcified plaque is as hard as a rock. It is literally calcium, just like the scale you can get on a sink or pool. It will actually chip a scalpel if you cut into it.

It builds up slowly over time and is not what causes a sudden MI. It causes milder symptoms of heart disease like lack of energy, difficulty breathing and angina.

It happens so slowly that some people actually grow peripheral arteries around the clogged areas and there are now some drugs that can accelerated this phenomena.

Anyway, what I'm talking about is something entirely different. I haven't been in the business for 4 years, but at that time, what I said was correct. And I have not read of any advancements. It cannot be detected.

Does anyone know anything about Nattokinase?

I've heard it's suppose to be a natural remedy for heart and vascular diseases.

High cholesterol runs in my family, however no one has had any real heart problems. My grandfather is 90, smokes like a train and does not eat healthy and still kicking. I'm healthy and I refuse to take cholesterol meds.

I do a lot of reading. Here is just a little summary.

prevention is the key

*When getting cholesterol checked, also have your levels checked for:
- LPa (high lipoprotein (a) levels can indicate damaged artery linings)
- homocysteine (high homocysteine levels may damage artery linings)
- c-reactive proteins (high c-reactive proteins levels may indicate inflammation)


*Things that may damage your artery linings (avoid these when possible)
- chlorine (in our drinking water and shower). btw, I'm told, coronary artery disease was discovered in the early 1900s about a few years after chlorine was added to the water.
- trans fats
- MSG
- high homocysteine levels
- control your blood sugar (Diabetics are more prone to artery lining damage)
- extended periods of stress (I've heard this can make your arteries dilate and damage artery linings and cholesterol can fill in the gaps/cracks).


*Other things or supplements that "may" help keep your artery linings healthy:
- b vitamins (may lower homocysteine)
- Vitamin C and the amino acids, lysine & proline (your artery lining are made of collagen
Collogen - encyclopedia article about Collogen.
Your body makes collagen from, vitamin C, lysine, proline.

(Also, your stress hormones feed on vitamin c and the FDA recommended levels are way to low.)

- other stuff can help too. fish oil, co q 10, etc.


Most health problems are caused by environmental factors, but not all, some people will have health problems no matter-what.

thanks.

Information based on years of research and multiple sources. I'm not a doctor, so this is not medical advise.