On November 1, I wrote about my health theories. I had chest pains, initially thought stress-related. I’d had them for over a decade, so I consulted a cardiac specialist. An EKG was slightly abnormal but normal overall. An echocardiogram revealed a dilated aorta (4.3 cm), which is typically 4.0 cm, but was concerning at 4.5 cm. I also have a slight mitral valve leak. This explains my recent frustration.
Options are numerous. Stress, lack of relaxation, and 80 extra pounds contribute to issues. I’m taking the second option: retesting in six months after I've made health improvements. These include:
- Learn to relax—People know this is not possible for me. I have picked up some things using the Foursquare technique, but it doesn't help.
- Regular exercise: 5-6 days for at least 30 minutes each. I need to improve at getting about twice per week. I have worked 70-plus-hour weeks, which is no excuse, but I have little time left to work out.
- Correction of minor lipoprotein abnormalities, e.g., small LDL and lipoprotein(a).
- Reduce carbohydrate intake by eliminating all wheat, cornstarch, and sugar products. This is an enormously effective way to correct small LDL, low HDL, and high triglycerides.
- Normalize vitamin D levels to counteract inflammatory responses in the aortic wall. I aim for a blood 25-hydroxy vitamin D level of 60-70 ng/ml.
- Vitamin C supplementation--Collagen cross-linking for aortic wall strength requires adequate vitamin C.
- Omega-3 fatty acids from fish oil-Fish oil corrects multiple causes of plaque, especially lipoproteins that derive from excessive triglycerides.
I’ve been biking for three days now, each for 40 minutes. It’s a significant improvement since I only found time once a week since July. I monitor my heart rate as a precaution. I still struggle to reduce my Type A habits. They make it sound like a life-or-death situation.
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