“Therapy with coenzyme Q10 was associated with a mean 25.4% increase in exercise duration and a 14.3% increase in workload.”
Coenzyme Q10. Its a vicious circle. Conventional heart meds can make you feel tired. But you need to exercise to keep your heart muscle as strong as possible, to manage your weight and to manage your BP.
My experience is that coenzyme Q(10) helps. It is not a magic bullet. And yes, you may need to combine evidence-based non-toxic therapies with toxic therapies like beta blockers or ACE inhibitors.
But my experience as a long-term cancer survivor is that it is in your best long-term interest to keep toxic therapies to a minimum. Or I should say that you should take as few or as low doses of these therapies as possible.
I was diagnosed with muliple myeloma, a blood cancer, in early 1994. I underwent aggressive conventional oncologic therapies including VAD induction therapy, high-dose cytoxan therapy and an autologous stem cell transplant including busulphan and melphalan chemotherapy regimens. That is a LOT of toxic chemo.
I developed chronic atrial fibrillation in the fall of 2010. My ejection fraction has remained 45% since I began measuring it that year. An echocardiogram this past October indicated that my ascending aorta had improved from 3.9 cm (echo in ’16) to 3.6 cm (echo in ’18). I manage my weight, manage my BP, eat cleanly and supplement with coenzyme Q(10) along with several other supplements.
My experience as a long-term cancer survivor led me to research evidence-based, non-conventional therapies both for my cancer as well as my short, long-term and late stage side effects. Coenzyme Q(10) is one of those evidence-based, non-toxic therapies. As you can see from the recommended reading there are several therapies to help you think outside of the conventional box.
If you have chronic afib, congestive heart failure or serious heart issues I encourage you to scroll down the page, and post a question or comment. I will reply to you ASAP.
To Learn More about Non-toxic heart therapies- click now
Hang in there,
David Emerson
- Cancer Survivor
- Cancer Coach
- Director PeopleBeatingCancer
Recommended Reading
“Coenzyme Q(10) is a naturally occurring substance that has antioxidant and membrane stabilizing properties. Administration of coenzyme Q(10) in conjunction with standard medical therapy has been reported to augment myocardial kinetics, increase cardiac output, elevate the ischemic threshold, and enhance functional capacity in patients with congestive heart failure.
The aim of this study was to investigate some of these claims. Seventeen patients (mean New York Heart Association functional class 3.0 +/- 0.4) were enrolled in an open-label study. After 4 months of coenzyme Q (10) therapy, functional class improved 20% (3.0 +/- 0.4 to 2.4 +/- 0.6, p < 0.001) and there was a 27% improvement in mean CHF score (2.8 +/- 0.4 to 2.2 +/- 0.4, p < 0.001).
Percent change in the resting variables included the following:
- left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF), +34.8%;
- cardiac output, +15.7%;
- stroke volume index, +18.9%;
- end-diastolic volume area, -8.4%; systolic blood pressure (SBP), -4. 4%; and
- E (max), (SBP / end-systolic volume index [ESVI]) +11.7%.
- MVo ( 2 ) decreased by 5.3% (31.9 +/- 2.6 to 30.2 +/- 2.4, p = NS).
Therapy with coenzyme Q(10) was associated with a mean 25.4% increase in exercise duration and a 14.3% increase in workload.
Percent changes after therapy include the following:
- exercise LVEF, +24.6%;
- cardiac output, +19.1%;
- stroke volume index, +13.2%;
- heart rate, +6.5%;
- SBP, -4.3%;
- SBP / ESVI, +18.6%;
- end-diastolic volume (EDV) area, -6.0%;
- MVo (2), -7.0%; and
- ventricular compliance (%Delta SV / EDV) improved >100%.
In summary, coenzyme Q(10) therapy is associated with significant functional, clinical, and hemodynamic improvements within the context of an extremely favorable benefit-to-risk ratio. Coenzyme Q(10) enhances cardiac output by exerting a positive inotropic effect upon the myocardium as well as mild vasodilatation.”
Several noninvasive studies have shown the effect on heart failure of treatment with coenzyme Q10. In order to confirm this by invasive methods we studied 22 patients with mean left ventricular (LV) ejection fraction 26%, mean LV internal diameter 71 mm and in NYHA class 2-3.
The patients received coenzyme Q10 100 mg twice daily or placebo for 12 weeks in a randomized double-blinded placebo controlled investigation. Before and after the treatment period, a right heart catheterisation was done including a 3 minute exercise test.
- The stroke index at rest and work improved significantly,
- the pulmonary artery pressure at rest and work decreased (significantly at rest),
- and the pulmonary capillary wedge pressure at rest and work decreased (significantly at 1 min work).
These results suggest improvement in LV performance. Patients with congestive heart failure may thus benefit from adjunctive treatment with coenzyme Q10.”
