title: Cardiovascular disease.
abstract: The primary care physician is in a position to advise patients on the efficacy of alternative and complementary therapies as they relate to cardiovascular diseases. Anti-oxidant vitamin supplementation has not been shown to be efficacious in decreasing cardiovascular events. N-3 fatty acids appear to be beneficial in secondary prevention of cardiovascular events but their use in primary prevention is not clear. Adoption of vegetable-based diets, including whole grains, can be recommended to decrease cardiovascular events, lower cholesterol and help lower blood pressure. For patients with hypercholesterolemia, cholestin, a red-yeast rice supplement, has been shown to be effective. Garlic supplements may have some mild cholesterol-lowering effect, but this effect is not significant enough to recommend clinically. Herbal therapies with hawthorn and ubiquinone (Q10) are of possible benefit in congestive heart failure. An integrated program of rigorous diet, exercise and stress reduction in motivated patients with cardiovascular disease may have value as an alternative to cardiovascular medications and surgical interventions.
authors.affiliation: Department of Family and Community Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, 5510 Greenbriar, Houston, TX 77005, USA. tgavagan@bcm.tmc.edu
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Gavagan
mesh_terms: D000975:Antioxidants / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000628:therapy*; D002614:Chelating Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000529:Complementary Therapies / Q000379:methods*; D003327:Coronary Disease / Q000628:therapy; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans; D006937:Hypercholesterolemia / Q000628:therapy; D006973:Hypertension / Q000628:therapy; D008019:Life Style; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D008517:Phytotherapy / Q000379:methods; D028321:Plant Preparations / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011322:Primary Prevention / Q000379:methods; D014481:United States; D014815:Vitamins / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D002614:Chelating Agents; D028321:Plant Preparations; D014815:Vitamins