Healthy Happy Heart
The following article was written by Dr. Royal Lee, Founder of Standard Process. He is discussing varies heart problems and how they are associated with nutritional deficiencies. The heart beat, rhythm and rate is very sensitive to nutritional changes and Dr. Royal Lee could measure these characteristic sounds of various heart irregularities with an Acoustic Cardiograph or Endocardiograph.
A Few Comments on the Relation of Abnormal Heart Sounds to Malnutrition
By Dr. Royal Lee
Extra Systoles, Heart Block, Fibrillation
These phenomena are due to the loss of conductivity of the heart tissues for the impulses that otherwise maintain synchronism of the contractile rhythm of the heart muscle. Heart block first starts as a skipping and then finally becomes a “pulsus alternans” situation: The heart muscle has become so insensitive that it responds only to a “second call” from the control apparatus that normally regulates pulse rate.
The cause is a deficiency of the cereal germ vitamins, B4 in particular. This fraction of the B complex is essential to normal function of motor nerves. It has also been called the “antiparalysis vitamin.” It is inseparable from natural thiamine, and it is never found in synthetic thiamine. It is, further, the physiological remedy for enlarged heart, for it is this factor in the B complex that maintains vascular and muscle tone.
A continued deficiency of B4, of course, results in greater or lesser degrees of nerve and muscle degeneration, but all of the above effects of its deficiency usually respond quickly, in some degree, to its administration. An enlarged heart—with its distorted and leaking valves, as shown by murmurs—usually becomes almost normal within a few minutes after ingestion of the natural B complex carrying the wheat germ concentrate [Cataplex B-Core], except for a prolonged first sound, the indication of tired muscle.
Fibrillation responds as quickly if the degenerative changes have not progressed too far. Heart block requires more time. Its presence indicates a relatively extended degree of degeneration.
Muscular fatigue and hypertrophy usually are treated with digitalis. A new extract of heart muscle known as Cardiotrophin PMG seems to be better for the purpose. Its action is quicker than digitalis when tested on the patient with a weakened and flabby heart, as shown by the weak and extended first sound.
The second sound of the pulse is commonly supposed to be made by the closing of the valves at the end of the heart contraction. In fact it occurs later than this, at the end of the outflow of blood, the blood reversal tending to close these valves. If the second sound at the aortic microphone position is accentuated, the general conclusion may be made that the systemic blood pressure will be found above normal. (It is important to distinguish an accentuated second sound from a diminished first sound.)
If the pulmonary system happens to be engorged and hypertensive, the accentuated second sound of the pulmonary position will be definite. This is common with patients having hypoadrenia, and they will complain of distress in the chest upon exertion due to this congestion. Vitamins to support the adrenals are indicated. Remember, cortisone and probably the other adrenal hormones require vitamins C and B complexes for their formation.
These patients usually do very well if they get proper natural vitamin supplements. They are incipient asthmatics, and they need adrenalin. Their systemic blood pressure is usually low. Sometimes the second sound is absent or barely perceptible in the mitral valve position of the microphone. One or two vitamin F tablets [Cataplex F] usually restore the second sound here within a few minutes.
Since we know that this vitamin increases the supply of ionized calcium required in muscular activity, it is probable that the absence of the second sound here is because of consequent muscular incompetence—the contraction losing its vigor at the end of the effort, permitting a more gradual slowing of the blood output than normal and thereby eliminating the second sound at this valve.
It is important to note the rest period duration—the time between the end of the second sound and the next first sound. If it is shortened to where it is no longer than the contraction period that follows the first sound, a so-called “tic-tac” rhythm is produced.