What role do environmental toxins play in heart disease?

Photo Cred: Marcin Jozwiak/Pexels

By Avery St. Onge

The prevalence of heart disease in the United States, and around the world, is difficult to comprehend. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death in the United States. The CDC reports that someone in the U.S. dies every 36 seconds due to heart disease, which makes up about 25 percent of deaths in the U.S. each year.

It’s well established that risk of heart disease is heavily associated with lifestyle choices, such as an unhealthy diet, physical inactivity, and excessive alcohol use, as well as medical conditions like diabetes and obesity, according to the CDC. However, a growing field of research is now suggesting that environmental toxins may play a significant role in the growing number of heart disease patients.

A review published in the Journal of the American Heart Association, contends that there is sufficient evidence to name environmental contaminants, specifically lead and cadmium, as cardiovascular risk factors. The paper’s authors concluded that mounting evidence suggests that lead and cadmium contribute to atherosclerotic cardiovascular risk, and although there have been successful efforts to reduce exposure to the toxins, they remain a widespread threat.

One 2006 study, published in Methodology, found that participants with the highest levels of lead in their blood had a 55 percent increased risk of cardiovascular mortality, 89 percent greater risk of myocardial infarction, and a 151 percent higher risk of stroke compared to those with the lowest amount of lead in their blood.

According to Stephen Hussey, MS, DC, chiropractor and functional medicine practitioner in Roanoke, Va., there are many contaminants that humans are exposed to in everyday life that can have negative impacts on heart health.

“Everything from bisphenol A (BPA) in plastics, to mold exposure, to heavy metals, to artificial fragrances, can contribute to our levels of oxidative stress and the level of damage that’s happening to the heart,” said Hussey.

Oxidative stress, Hussey explained, is a result of too many free radicals, a waste product that comes from burning energy, in the body. High levels of oxidative stress can lead to tissue damage in the heart, a precursor to heart failure.

Jack Wolfson, DO, FACC, a holistic cardiologist in Paradise Valley, Ariz., said research into how environmental toxins impact human health, specifically heart health, has a long way to go. Wolfson defined environmental toxins as “manmade or naturally occurring poisons in our environment.” He said although current research may not be sufficient enough to prove these toxins cause coronary artery disease, future research will almost certainly show a direct link.

“Natural or manmade, these poisons wreak such havoc on our health,” said Wolfson.

Understanding heart disease

Heart disease is an umbrella term for several different heart conditions. The poster child for heart disease, Wolfson said, is a person with coronary artery disease (CAD). The CDC lists CAD, which is caused by a build-up of plaque in the arteries, as the most common form of heart disease, affecting about 6.7 percent of the U.S. population aged 20 and older. However, according to Wolfson, the treatment of heart disease should not focus so much on labeling the specific condition, rather, treatment should begin with identifying the root cause of a patient’s symptoms. 

According to Hussey, heart conditions can be categorized by three diagnoses: atherosclerosis, which is hardening of the arteries, heart attacks, and heart failure. These conditions, to Hussey, are all caused by the same three imbalances: poor metabolic health, high levels of inflammation, oxidative stress in the body, and imbalance in the autonomic nervous system, which is responsible for controlling bodily functions, including heartbeat.

One way to combat oxidative stress and inflammation is to avoid toxins, according to Hussey. However, in a world where newborn babies have hundreds of chemicals in their bodies when tested, explained Wolfson, “it’s about reducing or eliminating exposure the best you can in a 21^st century toxic world.”

To do this, Wolfson suggested to avoid pesticides as much as possible, which could mean eating organic foods, or opting not to spray a property with chemicals to kill bugs. He also said patients should get their homes and workplaces tested for mold, and if there’s a problem, they should get it remediated by a quality professional. In addition, Wolfson said the “new car smells” and the “fresh paint smells” are due to volatile organic compounds (VOCs), which can lead to damage, and should be avoided as much as possible.

In general, humans are not living in the environment they’re best suited for in this day and age, Hussey said. Environmental toxins are just one piece of the puzzle, he explained. The main contributing factors to heart disease are an unhealthy diet, a lack of physical activity, and stress.

“For me, it really boils down to three common tenets: if you eat well, live well, and think well, then you’re less likely to be diagnosed with any of these cardiovascular conditions,” said Wolfson.

Prevention

For the most part, preventing heart disease means using common sense, explained Wolfson. Individuals with low levels of stress who eat an organic, whole food diet, get regular exercise, quality sleep, and avoid toxins, have a markedly lower risk of developing heart disease. To reduce stress, Wolfson suggested holistic therapies including yoga, tai chi, and meditation.

“There’s a reason we say, ‘I love you with all my heart,’ said Hussey. “Our emotions and the state of our psyche are incredibly linked to the health of our heart.” When treating heart disease, he said, “We have to look at stress, our interpretation of stress, and our balancing in the autonomic nervous system.”

More time in nature, cultivating meaningful loving relationships, and avoiding unpredictably, stressful situations, can all contribute to a balanced autonomic nervous system, according to Hussey. In addition, limiting exposure to toxins, a healthy diet, and exercise, are all components that will reduce inflammation and oxidative stress, as well as improve metabolic health. Getting these three imbalances in control, will not only reduce risk for heart complications, but also improve overall health and limit the need for pharmaceutical and surgical interventions.

“Heart disease is 100 percent preventable,” said Wolfson. “And again, the integrative practitioner, their job is to prevent, treat, and reverse heart disease naturally while reducing and eliminating the need for pharmaceuticals and surgeries. If we do that, we are staying true to why we became physicians in the first place.”