Stress Screening Evaluation The Heart and Blood Vessels
LOOMIS
STRESS
Howard F. Loomis
Jr., DC
I have described in this series of articles the specific physiological steps the body uses in response to any stress; be it structural, visceral, or emotional. This month, we look at the wonders of the circulatory system. Describing its multiple functions is not possible in this article. Instead, I would like to write about how we, as clinicians, can help our patients understand the physiological responsibilities of the circulatory system and be able to identify when it begins to struggle, is unable to maintain homeostasis, and becomes symptomatic before heart disease can be identified.
We know that the body initiates its “fight or flight” stress response any time any of its ten organ systems becomes energy deficient. This may result from lack of adequate nutrition or inadequate metabolic waste removal related to increased or prolonged exertional stress. These activities are under the direction of the autonomic nervous system, specifically the sympathetic system, which responds to stress. I have always divided sympathetic response by an organ based on whether the system is responding appropriately to stimulation or has become exhausted, and unable to maintain its homeostatic functions. The following chart summarizes these symptomatic responses:
CHART OF AUTONOMIC EFFECTS
Sympathetic Stimulation
Increased rate and force of contraction
Increases blood flow to tissues involved in stress response
Decreases blood flow to Tissues not needed for stress response
Stimulates
Relaxes bronchi Increases mucous Secretions
Organ or Tissue
Heart
Blood Vessels
Lungs
Bronchi
Sympathetic Exhaustion
Decreased rate and force of contraction
Inadequate nutrient delivery and metabolic waste removal
Obviously, the most readily recognized deviations from normal function involves taking the blood pressure and pulse rate each time we see the patient. Deviations from normal accepted values should be taken into consideration. But there are other signs and symptoms that generally suggest a circulatory problem. For example:
1. History of or taking medication for heart disease
2. Irregular heartbeat, skipped beats
3. Dryness of skin and hair, itching due to dryness
4. Suffer from varicose veins, hemorrhoids
5. Shoulder or chest discomfort on exertion
But there is one deviation from normal that we deal with quite often and recently new research into cardiac arrhythmias has been published, and I would like to bring that study to your attention. A study of how low oxygen levels in the heart predispose people to cardiac arrhythmias was performed at the University of California-Irvine and published on February 18, 2020 in the journal Cell Reports.
It summarized how low oxygen levels in the heart have long been known to produce life-threatening arrhythmias, even sudden death. Until now, it was not clear how. New findings reveal the underlying mechanism for this dangerous heart disorder.
The research shows that within seconds, at low levels of oxygen (hypoxia), a protein called small ubiquitin-like modifier (SUMO) is linked to the inside of the sodium channels which are responsible for starting each heartbeat. While SUMOylated channels open as they should to start the heartbeat, they re-open when they should be closed. The result is abnormal sodium currents that predispose to dangerous cardiac rhythms.
Clearly, there are two physiological processes at work here: protein metabolism and electrolyte balance. Both of which involve stress and the adrenal glands, both medulla and cortex, to respond appropriately.
Every heartbeat begins when sodium channels open and ions rush into heart cells - this starts the action potential that causes the heart muscle to contract. When functioning normally, the sodium channels close quickly after opening and stay closed. Thereafter, potassium channels open, ions leave the heart cells, and the action potential ends in a timely fashion, so the muscle can relax in preparation for the next beat.
If sodium channels re-open and produce late sodium currents, as observed in this study with low oxygen levels, the action potential is prolonged and new electrical activity can begin before the heart has recovered risking dangerous, disorganized rhythms.
Fifteen years ago, this research group reported SUMO regulation of ion channels at the surface of cells, an unexpected finding since the SUMO pathway had been thought to operate solely to control gene expression in the nucleus.
This new research shows how rapid SUMOylation of cell surface cardiac sodium channels causes late sodium current in response to hypoxia, a challenge that confronts many people with heart disease.
But how could you recognize the early warning signs of impending cardiac arrhythmia? Let us start with what are often considered obvious symptoms of adrenal medulla exhaustion. By the way, this possibility is denied by medical researchers since they insist blood tests always shows adequate epinephrine release.
1. Patient has a history low blood pressure (weak pulse pressure).
2. Patient awakens after sleeping a few hours and cannot go back to sleep.
3. Frequent periods of moodiness.
4. Light-headedness when meals are missed.
5. Frequent nightmares.
How do we justify finding these symptoms in patients with inadequate adrenal medulla response? The answer lies in its ability to produce epinephrine and norepinephrine, both protein-based hormones. By the way, these are essential compounds like insulin, thyroxine, and hemoglobin, and receive priority before other less important compounds.
That being true, is the liver able to respond to increased epinephrine release and increase protein metabolism and convert it to glucose? The “fight or flight” stress response signals the cells to send stored amino acids to the liver for conversion. But there is a limit to that supply since they must be used for growth and repair of tissues. The answer is no, because the patient is protein deficient, either due to inadequate ingestion or inadequate digestion.
So that leads us to the symptoms of protein deficiency, the most obvious of which are:
1. Edema - swelling of the hands and feet
2. Cold hands and feet
3. Water gain
4. Menstrual cramping
5. Increased secretions in mouth/nose/eyes
6. Patient does not tolerate exercise
Conclusion
I am not suggesting that chiropractors can now prevent or correct cardiac arrhythmias. You cannot prove a negative, but you can recognize early deviations from normal function, and make your patient aware of the cause and possible outcomes of neglect.
I am suggesting you can increase your income by increasing or improving service to your patients without expensive advertising, new equipment, or raising your fees.
Howard F. Loomis, Jr., DC, has an extensive background in enzymes and enzyme supplements. He is the founder and president of the Food Enzyme Institute. His extensive knowledge of physiology, biochemistry, and enzymology has made him a sought-after speaker and a prolific writer. Dr. Loomis published ENZYMES: The Key to Health in 1999, as well as The Enzyme Advantage: For Healthcare Providers and People Who Care About Their Health, in 2015, and The Enzyme Advantage for Women in 2016. Most recently, in 2019, Dr. Loomis published What is Your Nutritional Deficiency?: Find It, Fix It, and Feel Better! You can contact Dr. Loomis at [email protected] 800-662-2630. Food Enzyme Institute, 478 Commerce Dr. Suite 201, Madison, Wl 53719
