Changes

A contributing factor may be a very high consumption of [[sugar]] in USA. A statistical American consumes twenty times more sugar now, comparing to Americans two hundred years ago, and that coincides with the growth in heart diseases in that period.<ref>http://wholehealthsource.blogspot.com/2012/02/by-2606-us-diet-will-be-100-percent.html  Stephan Guyenet, based on statistics from old US Department of Commerce reports and the USDA</ref>

A contributing factor may be a very high consumption of [[sugar]] in USA. A statistical American consumes twenty times more sugar now, comparing to Americans two hundred years ago, and that coincides with the growth in heart diseases in that period.<ref>http://wholehealthsource.blogspot.com/2012/02/by-2606-us-diet-will-be-100-percent.html  Stephan Guyenet, based on statistics from old US Department of Commerce reports and the USDA</ref>

There is also a growing, although all too slowly, awareness among doctors and scientists that chronic [[inflammation]]s contribute as much to atherosclerosis as does excessive cholesterol concentration. That is evident especially in case of [[thrombosis]], that is plaques which burst open, sending their fragments into the [[blood vessel]]s, often clogging them, with grave or fatal results.  Inflammation is a beneficial tool of fighting many diseases e.g. bacterial ones, but a long-lasting ("[[chronic]]") inflammation is harmful. Study of this subject <ref>Low grade inflammation and coronary heart disease: prospective study and updated meta-analyses; John Danesh et al., British Medical Journal 2000 July 22; 321(7255): 199–204.</ref><ref>http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/about/copyright.html</ref><ref>Heart on Fire, Scientific America, June 1998</ref> concluded: „... '' markers of low grade inflammation were associated with one another and with future risk of coronary heart disease ..... These findings ... suggest that low grade inflammatory processes may be relevant to coronary heart disease.”''

There is also a growing, although all too slowly, awareness among doctors and scientists that chronic [[inflammation]]s contribute as much to atherosclerosis as does excessive cholesterol concentration. That is evident especially in case of [[thrombosis]], that is plaques which burst open, sending their fragments into the [[blood vessel]]s, often clogging them, with grave or fatal results.  Inflammation is a beneficial tool of fighting many diseases e.g. bacterial ones, but a long-lasting ("[[chronic]]") inflammation is harmful. Study of this subject <ref>Low grade inflammation and coronary heart disease: prospective study and updated meta-analyses; John Danesh et al., British Medical Journal 2000 July 22; 321(7255): 199–204.</ref><ref>https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/about/copyright.html</ref><ref>Heart on Fire, Scientific America, June 1998</ref> concluded: „... '' markers of low grade inflammation were associated with one another and with future risk of coronary heart disease ..... These findings ... suggest that low grade inflammatory processes may be relevant to coronary heart disease.”''

The term "markers of inflammation" requires explanation. If a visible part of the body is inflamed, redness and/or [[swelling]] allows to notice it. Inflammation inside the body needs other means of detection, usually the presence of some substances in blood, called "markers", which allow detection of an inflammation and measuring its intensity. The most commonly used marker of inflammation is "C-reactive protein" (CRP). If blood tests show elevated CRP levels repeatedly and consistently, then treatment with [[anti-inflammatory]] drugs [[statins]], [[Aspirin]], enteric-coated Aspirin for stomach protection, [[Tylenol]], can be considered. It needs to be remembered though that Aspirin, Tylenol and other drugs from that group cause some burden to the [[kidney]]s. If used together with [[blood pressure]]-controlling drugs, that burden is severe. If Aspirin or Tylenol etc. is used together with blood pressure-controlling drugs and any [[diuretic]] (urination-enhancing) drug is added to the former two, then kidneys are devastated very quickly by that "Triple Whammy".<ref>“Recent studies have identified the ‘triple whammy’ in which combinations of diuretics, [[nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug]]s ([[NSAID]]s), ACE inhibitors (ACEI) and/or angiotensin receptor antagonists (ARA) may impair renal function.”

The term "markers of inflammation" requires explanation. If a visible part of the body is inflamed, redness and/or [[swelling]] allows to notice it. Inflammation inside the body needs other means of detection, usually the presence of some substances in blood, called "markers", which allow detection of an inflammation and measuring its intensity. The most commonly used marker of inflammation is "C-reactive protein" (CRP). If blood tests show elevated CRP levels repeatedly and consistently, then treatment with [[anti-inflammatory]] drugs [[statins]], [[Aspirin]], enteric-coated Aspirin for stomach protection, [[Tylenol]], can be considered. It needs to be remembered though that Aspirin, Tylenol and other drugs from that group cause some burden to the [[kidney]]s. If used together with [[blood pressure]]-controlling drugs, that burden is severe. If Aspirin or Tylenol etc. is used together with blood pressure-controlling drugs and any [[diuretic]] (urination-enhancing) drug is added to the former two, then kidneys are devastated very quickly by that "Triple Whammy".<ref>“Recent studies have identified the ‘triple whammy’ in which combinations of diuretics, [[nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug]]s ([[NSAID]]s), ACE inhibitors (ACEI) and/or angiotensin receptor antagonists (ARA) may impair renal function.”