Concerning the Use of Ubiquinone for Congestive Heart Failure

Concerning the Use of Ubiquinone

for Congestive Heart Failure

The heart is an incredibly important part of the human body. Without its constant effort,

we would cease to exist. There are many diseases that can contribute to the failure of this vital

organ, just as there are many medications that can help combat them. This research paper will

explore the relationship between congestive heart failure and the use of ubiquinone (Coenzyme

Q10) to treat the same. This paper will take an objective look at what research has been done to

both prove and disprove its success with this cardiovascular complication. Before delving

directly into the pros and cons of ubiquinone usage, we need to define the elements of this

condition and describe ubiquinone itself.

I first want to discuss the elements of congestive heart failure (CHF) and its conventional

treatments commonly used in medicine today. This will give more strength to this research as the

reader will understand exactly what we are dealing with. CHF can best be defined as a condition

in which the heart becomes unable to adequately pump blood through the body, while allowing

blood to back up in the lungs. Though this may be a general definition of what constitutes CHF,

there is an array of symptoms that the patient may experience due to this condition. Some of

these may include: dypsnea (shortness of breath), fatigue, and edema of the legs and abdomen

(Cardiology Channel, 2004). As stated above, blood can back up into the lungs thereby giving us

a good understanding why one may experience shortness of breath. It is important to mention

that not all patients will experience the exact same symptoms. This is just another example of

how we are all unique. It is also important to note here that congestive heart failure is not a

diagnosis in itself, but is a result of a larger problem (Life Extension Foundation, 1995-2004). It

is interesting to note that the American Heart Association estimates that 4.7 million Americans

have congestive heart failure with the number expected to increase every year. In my opinion,

that is an extremely large of amount of people suffering from this disorder.

After a diagnosis is made, the patient’s physician will normally do several things. He or

she may prescribe various medications. Some commonly used are ACE inhibitors (Zestril®),

diuretics (Lasix®), Angiotensin receptor blockers (Cozaar®), beta blockers, and others. Of

course these are only examples of the possibilities. In addition to medications, there are other

factors that would be considered. The physician would most likely advise the patient to reduce or

eliminate alcohol and excessive sodium from their diets. There would possibly be a

recommendation of adding moderate exercise to the patient’s daily regimen. Any combination of

the above may be used to combat CHF, with each being custom tailored to the patient according

to the severity of the condition.

Now that we have examined a very brief summary of CHF and it’s conventional

treatment, let’s look at the prognosis. According to the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute

(2004), about two thirds of all patients diagnosed with CHF die within five years. They do state

that some may live past five years, depending upon factors such as age, overall health, and the

severity of the heart failure itself. Generally speaking, this doesn’t sound like good odds! From

most sources of information, you may find this to be somewhat of an average answer regarding

the prognosis of patients with CHF.

This is the point in which I wish to turn the tables, so to speak. We’ve come to a point

where an individual has developed a serious condition, received treatment, and basically written

off after a number of years due to the fact that this is just how it goes. Often times, patients with

serious illnesses are told that there is nothing more that medicine can do for them. This can be a

devastating statement for one to hear. It is also at this point that the patient may seek a second

opinion or another route to good health. There is no better time within this work to introduce that

last bit of hope and maybe a ticket to a longer life.