I think you do a disservice to those of us who are suffering from heart failure by offering the kind of suggestion that you do in your message. You don't explain the features or benefits of oxygen or colostrum treatments, don't quote any research directed to those with heart failure, and don't even offer any anecdotal evidence that these treatments are efficacious for the treatment of heart failure. You don't even tell us what colostrum is for heaven's sake.
On top of that you take a pot shot at the medical establishment that we rely on for treatment. You don't say whether or not you are a heart failure patient with experience in our medical system and offer no evidence that our doctors are trying to keep us sick.
I agree with you that oxygen treatments can be beneficial for those with heart failure. But do you know why? Heart failure patients can have a hard time breathing when excess fluid in the blood stream leaks out into the tissues of the lungs, blocking the transfer of oxygen through the aveoli and into the blood stream. If you don't already know, the aveoli are the millions of tiny sacks inside the lungs that perform this essential function. By taking in pure oxygen, heart failure patients can find it easier to breath simply because this supply enhances the possibility of getting a more efficient exchange of oxygen.
However, there is no evidence that this therapy has any curative value, for heart failure, or other diseases for that matter. In fact, respiratory therapists counsel their patients to try to get off of oxygen treatments. After all, who wants to have to carry around tanks of oxygen all the time? And, it has been shown that the only effective way to be weaned off of oxygen therapy is to keep the major muscles toned through regular exercise. The medical establishment, which you criticize without evidence, has replicated in study after study that fit muscles require less oxygen for support of activity. This is why there is more and more effort to suggest that heart failure patients should stay as active as possible and should engage in regular exercise activity. For years, heart failure patients have been coached to engage in regular walking and other aerobic activity.
I don't necessarily disagree that colostrum could be of benefit. What you neglect to say is that this is a vegetable based vitamin supplement. Everyone needs the benefits of necessary vitamins, hopefully gained through taking in a balanced diet rich with a variety of fruits and vegetables. More and more research is being done which shows the benefits of various vitamins and minerals for the body and more and more foods are found to be beneficial for their chemical contents which can help prevent disease or may have curative powers. And, many in the medical establishment which you criticize are the first to recommend to their patients that taking a multi-vitamin supplement may be beneficial since it is difficult for people to maintain a perfectly healthy diet at all times.
Again, the medical establishment has taken an active role in the investigation of vitamin supplements to determine their health benefits for the heart. A lot of effort has shown that Vitamins C and E play a roll in the prevention of coronary artery disease and healthy tissue development in the heart.
But it is irresponsible to suggest that someone with heart failure can expect reversal of their illness by taking only vitamin and mineral supplements.
Posted on Feb 24, 2002, 6:25 AM from IP address 63.29.96.138