Stop a Cold, Heal Your Heart
June 2007, Vol. 11, No. 24

There’s been no shortage of articles written in this newsletter about the number-one killer in this country: cardiovascular disease. There’s one associated problem, however, that has gotten far less “air time” both here and in other publications. That’s angina (ann-JY-nuh).

The large majority of the time, angina itself isn’t a disease. It’s a symptom of cardiovascular disease, and one that’s very often misunderstood.

In medical circles angina is often referred to as angina pectoris, which more precisely refers to chest pains behind the breastbone or sternum. The pain occurs when there is inadequate blood flow (read oxygen) to the heart muscle itself. More often than not, this condition is due to atherosclerosis, or clogging in the small coronary arteries that supply the heart muscle.

Anyone who’s experienced angina will probably never forget the sensation. The common symptoms include an immediate increase in heart rate and blood pressure, accompanied by chest pain that has been described as squeezing, burning, tightness, pressure and/or heaviness. The pain is generally slightly to the left side of the breastbone and can radiate to the lower jaw, neck, shoulder, back, arm, and hand.

These are many of the exact same sensations that are experienced during a heart attack. I’m sure that’s why thousands of men who experience this problem regularly will keep it to themselves and pray it goes away. With angina, this is generally the case...at least temporarily.

Most people may not want to admit it, but they know when they are experiencing angina. After several episodes a pattern begins to develop, and a certain level of activity or stress will trigger an episode.

It’s important to keep in mind that not all episodes of chest pain stem from poor circulation to the heart.

As a general rule, if the pain lasts for less than 30 seconds, or if it goes away when you change positions, drink a glass of water, or take a deep breath, it isn’t angina. It could be acid reflux, a strained intercostal muscle, a misaligned or broken rib, lung infection, or inflammation of the connective tissue attaching the ribs to the sternum.

On the other hand, if the episode of pain is prolonged and isn’t relieved by rest, it may be a heart attack.

It’s a Warning, Not an Assault

If you suffer from angina, it’s important to understand that an episode of angina is not a heart attack. Angina is the pain and other symptoms experienced when the heart temporarily doesn’t get enough blood (oxygen). This pain doesn’t mean there’s permanent, irreversible damage to the heart muscle. In fact, angina doesn’t normally damage the heart. But that certainly doesn’t mean you should downplay the problem. Angina is a strong warning signal indicating that steps must be taken to improve your cardiovascular system before the problem progresses to heart attack. If you experience angina before a heart attack or heart failure, consider it a blessing. Then, by all means, immediately start taking action to reverse the problem.

(It bears repeating here that another tell-tale sign of atherosclerosis in men is often erectile dysfunction (ED). Erections are possible thanks to two main arteries in the penis. If blood flow becomes impeded due to blockages or plaque buildup, it becomes difficult to achieve or maintain an erection. And since the arteries in the penis are somewhat smaller than those supplying the heart, it’s not unusual for problems to show up there first. For some reason, most doctors don’t seem to see the connection between ED and heart or vascular disease, and often fail to alert the patient. I hate to say that ED is a blessing like angina but, in a way, it can also be an early warning signal of an impending heart attack or heart failure. [Editor’s note: For more about effective ways to treat ED, see the Alternatives Subscriber Center at www.drdavidwilliams.com.])

Medical treatment generally consists of drugs to lower blood pressure and cholesterol, blood thinners, and some form of nitroglycerin to dilate blood vessels. It seems to be more and more common, however, to jump quickly to the next step and do either a balloon angioplasty or bypass surgery to improve blood flow.

I’ve covered alternative options extensively in the past. Hawthorn tea and extracts, coenzyme Q10, bromelain, magnesium, vitamin E, taurine, L-carnitine, garlic, lecithin granules, omega-3 oils (fish and flax oils), et cetera, are all therapeutic for heart conditions. Additionally, D-ribose (6 grams daily) has been shown to help stop exercise-induced angina, and creatine (5 grams daily) can help rebuild damaged heart muscle.

Obviously the above need to be combined with weight loss, a gradual increase in physical activity, a better diet, less stress, the elimination of sugar and refined carbohydrates in the diet, and a cessation of smoking.

I’m sure the heart-healthy regimen above isn’t news to you. I’ve been preaching about it for decades. What you may not be familiar with is a simple 14-day program that, for many people, can quickly stop angina problems.

A Common Mineral Provides Uncommon Benefit

George Eby isn’t that well-known, but his work with zinc lozenges in treating the common cold has received a bit of publicity during the last 20 plus years. It’s truly unfortunate that more people don’t know about his work, because it could help millions.

Eby helped conduct several studies that indicate that when the correct form of zinc is used (zinc acetate) as a lozenge, the duration and symptoms of a cold can be dramatically reduced.

One incidental finding to this work revealed that short periods of high-dose zinc could completely stop severe angina problems in many individuals.

When I spoke with Eby recently, he told me about a 65-year-old man who participated in a 1981 research study involving zinc and the common cold. It was a blinded study, which means the participants didn’t know whether they were taking zinc or a placebo. In addition to having a cold, this particular gentleman also suffered from severe angina. Like the other participants, he was told to take 23 mg of zinc gluconate every two hours while awake to treat his cold symptoms. His cold symptoms were not responding to the zinc, so on the third day he took a total of 300 mg of zinc and continued with 276 mg on each remaining day of the seven day trial.

Following the seven-day trial this gentleman insisted that he be told what he’d been taking. He didn’t care if it was a placebo or zinc. He wanted more. After five days his angina pain had vanished for the first time in 15 years. Prior to this he had used other medications, including nitroglycerin, with little relief. Now the pain was completely gone, his blood pressure was normal, and he showed no signs of heart damage.

After this study that same gentleman went snow skiing in Colorado for the first time in 15 years and experienced no discomfort. He later found a new job working for the railroad and felt fine working hard labor each day.

Additional clinical work was done using 180 mg of supplemental zinc daily with patients suffering from angina. At least 50 to 60 people were successfully treated in this manner, but unfortunately the clinical records are no longer available. In practically every case, if the patients stopped smoking and made some dietary changes (cut out refined carbohydrates and consumed less fat), they responded favorably to this form of treatment. (Med Hypotheses 06;66(1):169-172)

By digging into earlier research, Eby found studies as far back as 1968 where doctors reported positive results using zinc in angina patients. One report found significant improvement in 12 of 16 patients using zinc therapy, and six of these used only zinc and didn’t change their dietary, exercise, or smoking habits. (Trace Substances in Environmental Health, conference 2nd Proceedings 1967–1968)

Eby uncovered another report from Poland which found that individuals who worked in zinc mines had a 40 percent reduction in their incidence of angina when compared to individuals without any environmental zinc exposure. (Part II: Coronary Disease, Przegl Lek 80;37(6):507–510)

A Riddle Wrapped in a Mystery Inside a Capsule

Unfortunately there hasn’t been a lot of follow-up work on the effects of zinc and angina to determine exactly how it works. Eby has shown that as far back as the 1960s there were reports indicating it was beneficial, but there’s obviously not much interest from the pharmaceutical industry or anyone else doing research on a common mineral that can’t be patented.

To be perfectly honest, I don’t know exactly how it works. I’m not sure anyone does at this point. From the various reports I read, patients I’ve spoken with, and details of Eby’s and others’ observations, a short period of high-dosage zinc appears to have somewhat of a cleansing effect on arteries rather than simply increasing blood flow through dilation. We do know that zinc’s antioxidant properties can prevent oxidation of the LDL form of cholesterol, which is one of the mechanisms of arteriosclerosis or clogging of the arteries. High doses of zinc also reduce inflammation, another contributor to artery plaques and clogging. And some researchers feel that a short period of high-dose zinc releases or “flushes” LDL cholesterol from cardiovascular tissues which, in turn, improves circulation and helps restore cardiac function.

This is definitely another case where more research would be helpful, but there never seems to be much interest in low-cost, do-it-yourself, therapies.

Take Sensible Precautions

One of the first concerns about any therapy is safety. The recommended daily dose for zinc varies depending on age and sex. Adult males require more zinc, and that’s especially true for those who are sexually active since semen contains high levels of zinc. The suggested daily intake for men is between 10 and 15 mg and for women that number may be roughly from about 7.5 to 10 mg. Based on the latest research, these recommendations are starting to look low—particularly if you’re over 55.

A new study at Wayne State University School of Medicine found that zinc supplementation could reduce infections in the elderly. A group of 50 subjects ages 55 to 87 received either a placebo or tablet containing 45 mg of zinc gluconate each day for one year. (Am J Clin Nutr 07;85(3):837–844)

At the end of the year, those on the zinc supplement had a significantly lower number of infections. Additionally, blood markers that indicate inflammation and oxidative stress were also reduced. There were no side effects or problems related to the zinc consumption. Keep in mind that inflammation and oxidative stress are two major contributors to the development of clogging of the arteries.

Very high doses of zinc taken for a long time could potentially cause problems, so a few precautions are in order. Studies have shown that a daily dosage of 300 mg for 30 days can suppress immunity in young adults, but a daily dose of 440 mg for 30 days can boost immunity in elderly adults. While the research to date seems a little confusing on this matter, the key is to not take the high doses for an extended period of time. The short-term dosages we’re talking about for treating angina, however, haven’t been shown to be a problem at all. In fact, quite the opposite occurs. Studies show immune function improves. (JAMA 84 252(11);1443–1446) (Am J Clin Nutr 88;48(3):655–653) (Am J Med 81;70(5)1001–1004)

If high doses of zinc are taken for extended periods it’s possible that the body’s copper stores could be depleted. I don’t think this would be an issue for the dosage and period of time we’re talking about, but it’s easy enough to supplement with a little copper before undertaking the high-zinc dosage program.

Putting the Program to Work

Most people don’t need to take 300 mg a day like the gentleman I mentioned earlier. In fact, for most people, taking 60 mg of zinc three times daily is all that’s necessary. (Eby felt that the only time a 300 mg daily dosage might be needed would be in individuals weighing 300 pounds or more.)

Also, based on Eby’s clinical observations, many people needed only 4, 5, or 6 days of high-dose zinc therapy and not the full two weeks. Not only did most of the patients see total relief from their angina pain in that period, but their grayish to blackish skin tone disappeared and their overall circulation improved dramatically. (As an interesting side note, Eby told me that a patient’s chronic, severe case of Raynaud’s syndrome also cleared in seven days using 180 mg of zinc gluconate a day.)

In a nutshell, the research suggests that 180 mg of zinc should be taken daily in divided doses (60 mg with each meal). The best forms of zinc are the ones that are more biologically available. These would include zinc gluconate, chloride, acetate, glycinate, histidinate, or sulfate. The high dose can be stopped as soon as the angina stops, which is generally within the first seven days. The maximum period for taking the high-dose zinc would be 14 days. And finally, to prevent any possible problems with copper depletion, it is recommended that 4 to 6 mg of copper chloride be taken daily for 14 days prior to the high-dose zinc program.

Obviously underlying problems led to the angina in the first place, and those need to be corrected as well. Consumption of refined carbohydrates, high animal fat intake, smoking, lack of exercise, and vitamin/mineral deficiencies all need to be dealt with to achieve the best effects. Eby and others feel that many of the problems that can be corrected through the use of zinc stem from deficiencies in that mineral caused by the consumption of refined grains, which tend to deplete minerals in the body. As such, refined grain products (particularly white flour) should be replaced with whole grain products, nuts, and seeds in the diet. I’ve discussed this at length before, and the problems caused by eating a high glycemic diet.

Using high dose zinc to correct angina problems isn’t something you’re probably going to hear about either from your cardiologist or family physician. The first thought that usually comes to their mind when they hear the word angina is bypass surgery. And it’s probably the first thought of most patients as well. That’s why thousands are afraid to even mention the problem to their family or their doctor.

Large-scale clinical trials need to be performed to illustrate the benefits of zinc therapy. Hopefully, zinc therapy will be more widespread and accepted in the not-too-distant future. But maybe that’s just wishful thinking on my part. As George Eby was quick to point out, the benefits of using zinc therapy for treating angina and atherosclerosis have been discussed in the medical literature since the 1960s. The evidence is there. Obviously, it’s not a matter of whether it works or not. The ultimate test is whether it’s profitable for someone to promote the procedure, and that’s where zinc therapy comes up short.

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The approaches described in this newsletter are not offered as cures, prescriptions, diagnoses, or a means of diagnoses to different conditions. The author and publisher assume no responsibility in the correct or incorrect use of this information, and no attempt should be made to use any of this information as a form of treatment without the approval and guidance of your doctor.