Heart Therapy

The heart is the hardest working organ. It pumps oxygen rich blood through the arteries 24/7. It is highly important to keep the heart and arteries healthy and free of debris.

When the heart’s arteries are blocked by atherosclerotic plaque (fatty layers), the muscle is deprived of oxygen. This kills the affected muscle and can lead to a heart attack.

As a natural solution, the heart has an ability to grow alternate arteries called collateral arteries. These alternate arteries can redirect the flow of the blood around the damaged heart muscle. This system of extra arteries can be vital after a heart attack. If there is a well-developed collateral system, there will be healthy heart circulation, even if part of the main artery is blocked. The problem is that most collateral systems aren’t strong enough to support heavy flows of blood.

To improve the collateral system scientists tried to inject VEGF and FGF, proteins that stimulate growth of blood vessels. The problem with this was that huge amounts of protein was needed for even a little bit of improvement. These high amounts could also cause severe side effects. This led the scientists to inject genes that produce VEGF and FGF into the DNA. Unfortunately, this method did not deliver many results either.

After lots of research, scientists found one guaranteed way to boost collateral circulation: intense, enduring, exercise. This exercise increases blood flow and widens the collateral artery walls, making them stronger and more capable of blood flow.

Scientists are still looking for clinical treatments to make the collateral system stronger – especially for those who are unable to do exercise. According to Dr. Gabor Rubanyi, “I believe that we are well on our way to developing new treatments […] Within the next several years, we should finally be able to offer a successful alternative to hundreds of thousands of cardiac patients who currently have no other options.”