Congestive Heart Failure
Congestive heart failure (CHF) seems to be the exception when it comes to our national battle against heart disease. While other forms of heart disease, including coronary artery disease (CAD), are becoming less common, the rates of CHF continue to rise.
CHF occurs when the heart cannot pump efficiently enough to supply the body with freshly oxygenated blood. Hoping to prolong survival, patients with CHF are typically treated with an array of powerful medications that have been shown to increase survival, often at a high cost. The conventional drugs used to treat CHF have significant adverse effects and in many cases, implantation of a lifesaving medical device or even having a heart transplant may be necessary.
The symptoms of CHF include fatigue, shortness of breath, coughing, swelling and when severe bluish extremities. CHF is also described by the region of the heart affected. The heart has four chambers, two each on the right and left sides. Each side of the heart has a filling chamber (atria) and a pumping chamber (ventricle). A complete cardiac cycle or heartbeat has all of these chambers working in concert to move blood through the body.
The right side of the heart is responsible for accepting oxygen-poor blood from the body, then pumping it through the right ventricle, into the pulmonary arteries and into the lungs, where carbon dioxide is exchanged for oxygen. After the blood travels through the lungs, it returns to the left side of the heart through the pulmonary veins. Here, the heart's main pumping chamber (the left ventricle) pumps the freshly oxygenated blood through the aorta and out to the rest of the body.
CHF that occurs on the right side of the heart is called corpulmonale, or right-sided heart failure. It is characterized by an expanded right ventricle. Symptoms include swelling as the blood pools in the legs and lower body.
CHF that occurs on left side of heart is characterized by an enlarged and weakened left ventricle. Left-sided heart failure results in inadequate amount of blood being pumped through the body and includes symptoms such as shortness of breath and fatigue.
Vitamins and dietary supplements ease the symptoms of CHF often without the debilitating side effects of more powerful pharmaceuticals. Coenzyme Q10 is widely studied in CHF and found to increase heart function. Other dietary supplements and nutrients, including minerals (such as magnesium and potassium), antioxidants (such as alpha-lipoic acid and vitamins C and E) may help ease symptoms of CHF.
Role of Noni
Studies showed that nutrients and supplements strengthen the heart muscle, with a fewer side effects than the powerful pharmaceuticals often used to treat the condition. Noni is one of the most powerful nutritional supplements.
The goal with nutrients and supplements is the same as with conventional medication to slow the gradual enlargement and weakening of the heart. This process, which occurs in all forms of CHF, is called cardiac remodeling. During cardiac remodeling, the heart gradually changes shape, becoming larger and thinner. Cardiac remodeling is the driving force behind the reduced quality of life experienced by patients with CHF. By reinforcing the heart's function, it may be possible to slow cardiac remodeling. In this regard, Noni has many beneficial effects, including energy production, an antioxidant effect, and stabilizing the heart membrane.
The levels of L-carnitine and taurine in the heart muscle decline among patients with CHF. By raising blood levels of both amino acids, patients with CHF responded with a fewer symptoms and improved cardiac function. L-carnitine is synthesized from the amino acids, lysine and methionine. Taurine is a derivative of cystine. Noni contains all those prime amino acids of lysine, methionine and cystine. Noni raises the level of those two amino acids, L-carnitine and taurine in the blood.
L-carnitine is essential for transport of fatty acids into the heart muscle and mitochondria for energy production and is sensitive to level of oxygen in heart muscle. Studies showed that patients with CHF who took Noni improved ejection fraction. Noni helps the heart by preventing enlargement of left ventricle, which is a critical step in the progression of CHF. Patients with CHF often have swelling caused by excessive fluid buildup in tissues, which puts additional pressure on heart and accelerates CHF. Diuretics, one of the standard pharmaceutical therapies in CHF, are basically designed to flush excess fluid from body. Noni reduces fluid levels, reducing workload on heart.
Noni stimulates to synthesize more nitric oxide (NO) in our body. Nitric oxide (NO) works as a vasodilator. Scopoletin, another ingredient in Noni also acts as vasodilator.
The goal of Noni supplement on CHF is to
- Restore neurohormonal and metabolic integrity.
- Improve the pumping action of the heart and increase myocardial efficiency.
- Decrease oxidative stress throughout the body.
- Restore mineral balance (especially sodium/potassium ratios).
- Decrease vascular resistance to improve blood flow.
- Lower the risk of blood clots.
- Lower the risk of abnormal heart rhythms.
Magnesium and potassium
Patients who are treated with a common diuretic (furosemide) often develop low magnesium and potassium levels, which cause cardiac arrhythmias. Many physicians recommend that patients who are on furosemide also be given potassium to help prevent arrhythmias. Studies also showed that magnesium supplementation normalized potassium and magnesium levels within the heart. Noni contains rich amount of potassium and magnesium.
Antioxidant
The dangerous effects of oxygen-free radicals on the body are well known. Elderly populations with higher blood levels of antioxidants have a lower incidence of heart disease. Among people who had a heart attack, supplementation with Noni, a natural robust antioxidant diminishes formation of free radicals and reduces damage to heart . These studies demonstrate that heart health is related to antioxidant levels, because antioxidants slow the progression of CHF. Noni is a powerful and effective antioxidant.
Recommended Dosage
Divine Noni Fruit Juice Concentrate
5ml morning and 5ml evening for 3 days. Then
10ml morning and 10ml evening for next 3 days. Then
15ml morning and 15ml evening for next 8 months.
