Chronic Chest Pain? 5 Steps to Alleviate It

My doctor lectures everywhere she can trying to spread the word about the importance of taking magnesium supplements, not only for heart health but also whole body health as this mineral is responsible for over 300 enzymatic reactions in the human body.

Magnesium has, she says, been effectively washed out of our soils, so we can no longer expect to get the magnesium we need from the foods we consume. Equally important, calcium and magnesium are tied together in a healthy body in a fairly tight ratio (about 2:1, calcium to magnesium). Americans who consume milk, yogurt, cheese, ice cream, etc., are apt to get too much calcium and if they are not taking magnesium supplements run the risk of having this ratio get dangerously out of balance.

Calcium causes, among many other things, muscles to contract (including the heart muscle) and magnesium allows it to relax. Without enough magnesium, the heart can go into a contraction and not come out of it; hence the importance of keeping this balance in check. Sudden death from a magnesium deficiency is not uncommon, either. So it is important to begin supplementing with magnesium; 400mg to 500mg a day. Magnesium citrate is well absorbed; just make sure you get enough of the elemental mineral. Also, if possible buy your supplement at a health food store rather than a drug store to get the best quality for rapid absorption.

Interestingly, the simple test to determine whether you are getting enough magnesium is to keep taking capsules until you get diarrhea (it's usually a mild form). When this happens you simply cut back one capsule the next day and you are then taking the perfect amount of magnesium for your body. This test is not true for any other mineral; just magnesium. Also, BE SURE when buying a supplement NOT to get a combination calcium/magnesium supplement. Buy only magnesium; that is, unless you consume no or few dairy products, in which case a combination supplement might be wise.

I intend to contact the Obama administration about this, especially since healthcare reform is underway this year. As a nation we could shave off billions of dollars of health care costs every year just by giving "prescriptions" for magnesium to people who show up at the hospital. Those patients could take their prescription to, say, Walmart, and the pharmacist could sell them this inexpensive mineral. If they followed the ER doctor's "order" and actually took the supplement it could potentially forestall their next 10 or 20 visits to the emergency room. Those not getting adequate amounts of magnesium in their diets will no doubt show up in ER much more often than those who do!

Finally, I urge everyone to go to the following Web sites:

(1) www.lef.org (Life Extension Foundation); search for "magnesium deficiency" (minus the quotation marks) and read EVERY WORD of the four articles that pop up.

(2) Search for "Patricia Braun magnesium" and read what my doctor says about this vital mineral.

Christina Duncan of TX 4:36PM May 13, 2009