What Are the Uses of Chelation for Heart Disease?

Using chelation therapy for heart disease is controversial. Some doctors believe it is helpful, but many health experts describe it as a dangerous, unproven treatment. This therapy was originally used to treat lead and mercury poisoning, but some doctors and naturopathic practitioners apply it for the treatment of heart disease as well. Doctors who recommend chelation for heart disease believe the medicine used for this therapy will stick to the plague in one's arteries and facilitate the removal of the plaque as the medicine circulates in the body. This treatment, however, has harmed some and has not been proven effective in scientific studies.

During the process of using chelation for heart disease, a medicine called ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) is introduced into the body via a vein. This drug is supposed to stick to calcium found in fatty deposits in a patient's arteries, removing the deposits from the arteries as it leaves the body in the patient's urine. Some doctors and alternative medicine practitioners believe this process helps reverse the effects of heart disease, but most research has failed to prove this.

Chelation therapy is usually applied in multiple sessions, using an intravenous tube placed in the patient's hand or arm. In fact, a person may need as many as 50 sessions to complete treatment. Each session typically lasts for several hours, after which a person can continue with his normal activities. He may, however, experience swelling of his ankles or urinate more frequently following this type of therapy.

Other common side effects of chelation for heart disease include fever, nutrient deficiencies, blood pressure changes, sour stomach, and problems with the production of blood cells. Complications of this type of treatment can include irreparable damage to a patient's kidneys and even death. It is recommended that a person thoroughly research this treatment and have an in-depth discussion with his doctor before he agrees to try it. This way, he can fully understand the potential complications of the therapy and make an informed decision about whether it's worth the risk.

As part of using chelation for heart disease, a person usually has to take potent mineral supplements. The drug used in this type of therapy doesn't merely stick to the calcium in a patient's arteries; it also binds to consumed minerals that are critical for optimal health. In order to prevent the compromising of one's health as the result of this type of heart disease therapy, a person typically has to take mineral supplements as prescribed by his doctor.