Study finds patients with mitral annulus calcification at higher risk of heart valve and cardiovascular disease

Medical Xpress / Mayo Clinic / Mayo Clinic Proceedings ^ | June 1, 2022 | Nahoko Kato et al

[ConservativeMind]

A retrospective review of more than 24,000 patients who underwent an EKG at Mayo Clinic finds that nearly one-quarter of the patients had mitral annulus calcification, a chronic degeneration of tissue at the base of the heart's mitral valve. Mitral valve dysfunction was more than twice as prevalent for those patients, who also were at higher risk of all-cause mortality.

Mitral annulus calcification has been associated with cardiovascular diseases and events, as well as higher mortality rates. The research suggests that mitral annulus calcification is a predictor of mortality, as well as a marker of valvular and cardiovascular disease.

"Mitral valve surgery is associated with high risk for patients with mitral annulus calcification, in part because advanced age can be a factor. Severe calcification makes mitral valve procedures more challenging to perform."

Of 24,414 patients evaluated with an EKG, 5,502, or 23%, had mitral annulus calcification, according to the study. Mitral valve disease was observed in 16% of those patients. Among patients with mitral annulus calcification, 54% of those with mitral valve dysfunction were female, and frailty was common.

Presence of mitral annulus calcification was associated with higher mortality. Mitral valve dysfunction increased mortality, regardless of mitral annulus calcification.

Says Dr. Pellikka: "Patients with calcification more commonly had not only mitral valve dysfunction, but also aortic valve disease. For clinicians, suspicion for valve diseases should be increased and evaluations carefully performed for patients with mitral annulus calcification."

"The highest risk group of patients with mitral annulus calcification are women and patients who have aortic valve disease, left ventricular outflow tract obstruction and renal dysfunction. Patients with any valve dysfunction in the setting of mitral annulus calcification should have regular follow-up visits with their physician. Periodic follow-up imaging also is appropriate, and echocardiography works well for this purpose," Dr. Pellikka says.

[ConservativeMind]

Calcium dysfunction is associated with atherosclerosis. Losing weight and reducing unhealthy carbs and fats and more movement can help. Additionally, studies have shown ways with supplements to reduce both hard (calcium deposits, just like these) and soft (referred to as “cholesterol,” but only a small amount is actual cholesterol) plaques.

Calcium deposits have been shown to be removable by high dose Vitamin K and K2-MK4 administration. Soft plaques are addressable by a variety of other supplements, as shown in studies, through nattokinase, lumbrokinase, bergamot, curcumin, aged garlic, pomegranate, a compounded seaweed supplement called “NanobacTX,” tocotrienols, pycnogenol with centella asiatica, and fucoidan, among others.

[ConservativeMind]

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[ConservativeMind]

Further information is here:

Reversal of Clogged Arteries Is Real! Here Are EVEN MORE Ways I Do It
https://kahn642.medium.com/reversal-of-clogged-arteries-is-real-here-are-some-ways-i-do-it-433b890bf77e

Regression of warfarin-induced medial elastocalcinosis by high intake of vitamin K in rats (Vitamin K / K2-MK4 removed 50+% of coronary calcium in twelve weeks)
https://ashpublications.org/blood/article-lookup/doi/10.1182/blood-2006-07-035345

[PeachyKeen]

I was diagnosed with mitral valve prolapse in my 30’s. Caused me hospitalization several times. The chest pain was horrific.There was talk of a replacement. Luckily, I guess, I grew out of it? I don’t know.

[entropy12]

I have come to the conclusion that degenerative events such as calcification deposits in arteries can be minimized by making the heart work harder with exercise.

In many ways the car engine is similar to heart function. If you drive at slow speeds a lot in heavy traffic, carbon sludge builds up. Driving at high speed on highway occasionally cleans up carbon deposits. Exercise may be doing same thing for the heart.

I exercise daily for 25 minutes and knock on wood, have zero issues with heart at age 82. As a side benefit have not had a cold, cough, flu in 15+ years.

[bimboeruption]

What type of exercise do you do?

[entropy12]

To keep leg cramps to a minimum, I have reduced treadmill to 15 min at fast walk speed. But I wear wrist weights and swing my arms. After treadmill I work the weight machine with 30 pulls of 30 lb weight.

This pace is avoiding cramps and bringing on sciatica.
My theory is regular exercise daily if possible is more beneficial to seniors than more vigorous pace.

I skip the gym on mowing grass days.

[jonrick46]

Individuals with MAC were more likely to be older and have a history of hypertension and smoking.

[Republican Wildcat]

by high dose Vitamin K and K2-MK4 administration.

Be careful with that you can get your blood too thick and create more problems.

Also there is a lot of talk about Vitamin D with it being a good supplement to take for the immune system especially in the wake of Covid - however, like most things, too much of a good thing can be very bad in causing calcification of the arteries. I've seen one person say "you can take as much Vitamin D as you want, even the whole bottle at once, it can't hurt you." It most certainly can. Only if your body has issues with absorbing it should very high doses be taken.

[ConservativeMind]

A seaweed supplement similar to NanobacTX, called “Arterosil HP,” is available on Amazon, at a much better price.