Sudden Cadiac death for otherwise healthy people explained

[escapee]

Athlete Alert: Renowned Neurosurgeon Identifies Aspartame & MSG in Sudden Cardiac Death

Over 460,000 people anually die of a disorder called sudden cardiac death, according to CDC statistics. This condition strikes otherwise healthy people who have experienced no obvious symptoms of heart disease prior to their abrupt deaths.

An alarming number young athletes are included in these deaths, in high schools and colleges as well as among professional athletes. While in some of these individuals cardiologists found evidence of coronary disease and scars from earlier silent heart attacks, there is one mechanism that's getting no attention at all: the excitotoxin damage caused by food additives and the artificial sweetener aspartame. This is despite growing evidence that the excitotoxic mechanism plays a major role in cardiac disease.

Previously, it was thought that excitotoxic food additives, such as monosodium glutamate and aspartic acid in aspartame, cause their damage in the cardiovascular centers in the brain stem and/or by over-stimulating sympathetic centers in the hypothalamus of the brain. Both mechanisms have resulted in sudden cardiac death in experimental animals.

A particularly deadly combination occurs in young athletes: Low magnesium intake, high calcium intake, low intake of omgea-3 fatty acids and excitotoxins in food additives. Strenuous exercise, especially in extreme heat, depletes the body's magnesium stores, as does consumption of carbonated drinks and taking calcium supplements. Also adrenalin secretion, increased during exercise, intensifies heart muscle irritability and further loss of magnesium as well. When calcium supplements are taken in the face of an existing magnesium deficiency, both magnesium and calcium are driven into the bones, producing a sudden magnesium-depletion crisis.

Low magnesium produces seizures and causes sudden cardiac arrest. In a classic experiment it was found that stressing magnesium-deficient animals resulted in an almost 100% mortality from sudden cardiac arrest. Adding magnesium reduced mortality dramatically. A considerable body of evidence has shown that low omega-3 fat intake significantly increases the risk and severity of cardiac arrhythmias, the main cause of sudden cardiac death.

[Michelle]

My boyfriend actually has something like this - Long-QT Syndrome. If recognized it is highly treatable, if unrecognized it is basically a time bomb.

[JSampsoN82]

One of my close friends from highschool (we graduated back in 2001) died from this back in june of 06, no warning at all. When his girl friend woke up in the morning noticing he wasnt in bed next to her she went to the bahroom were she found him laying on the bathroom floor cold. Very sad.

[marktb]

Dr. Mercola has written a great book called "Sweet Deception" that explains the dangers of artificial sweeteners. The incidence of younger poeple experiencing heart problems has ALOT to do with the consumption of trans fats and other processed foods which cause accelerated cell degeneration, especially around vital organs like the heart, pancreas, liver and kidneys. Accordign to many experts, a person whose diet is based on quick fast, processed meals can expect to be biologically 10-15 years older than their actual age.

Mark Baldwin

[escapee]

Had a very masculine and physically fit friend left on the same condition in the bath room. From what i have gathered, he ate lots of fried food, fast food, soda, MSG and stuff. His departure was a shock to many because he just didn't look the kind of ppl(he is very fit, an avid basketball player) who would be afflicted by the disease.

[ÜberDan]

Scary stuff. I've been concerned about this for a while. I have a healthy diet and wouldn't expect to have much artificial sweeteners in it. I have Udo's Choice Blend Oil so should be getting all my essential fats.

When I do extensive exercise 1hr 30+ or shorter sessions with higher heart rate I sometimes get palpitations that same night or the following day. When I say sometimes I mean maybe once every 2-3 months but being quite fit it gets my attention. During intense exercise I sweat a lot so have been looking into replacing potassium salts after workouts but thanks for the post 'cause I’ll have a look at magnesium now as well.

[ÜberDan]

Over the last 3 weeks I have stepped up my training regime exercising mostly 5 days out of 7. My training sessions are mixed between weights, swimming and running with the latter usually being the most intense. I don’t drink alcohol which allows me to stay hydrated easier and I stick close to a vegan diet. I usually use low energy levels and sore muscles as an indicator that I need to slow down and have a rest, recently it’s been different.

Last week I started to have short and random irregular heartbeats, a quick google suggested it might be arrhythmia. If it only happened once or twice I might have dismissed it but it’s being quite persistence. Without going into too much detail I found this article on the web Nutrition for Athletes

It discusses how nutrition is often overlooked as a cause and solution for heart problems in the athlete. This article really hit home for me and I’ve immediately taken on board the supplement advice of Magnesium, Vitamin D and more healthy fats and oils. It’s a must read for any serious athlete in endurance sports and it has more links to other similar articles.

Blog Entry: Nutrition and Heart problems for the Athlete at The Beginning

[Alvin]

I see. There was a big report in the papers last year about a young teenage athelete who died from the same cause - sudden cardiac arrest without any previous history of it.