Do you suffer from fibromyalgia, joint pain, fatigue, headaches, depression, cardiovascular disease, or other conditions that have been difficult to treat? You might have issues with peroxynitrite clearing, ammonia build up, or nitric oxide production.
In 1985, The Noble Prize was awarded to a researcher from UCLA, for linking the enzyme that makes nitric oxide, Nitric Oxide Synthase (NOS), to cardiovascular disease. Nitric oxide allows the blood vessels to dilate and ensures adequate blood flow. It is also the target for certain medications on the market, such as nitroglycerin, Cialis, and Viagra. This was just the beginning.
Further study into the NOS enzyme and relevant genetic components reveals a complex cycle within the human body. When it works properly, people enjoy great health and longevity. When it doesn’t work properly, people suffer from a myriad of symptoms and diseases, ranging in severity from mild to severe.
Unfortunately, we live in a very toxic environment which impairs the efficiency of the cycle and disrupts the balance of oxidants and anti-oxidants. Additionally, many of us have numerous genetic weaknesses in a complex system that neutralizes free radicals or that produce Nitric Oxide. When these two systems are out of balance, we can generate peroxynitrite, a very potent oxidizing chemical. This is often accompanied by elevated ammonia levels, and as a result, it can destroy our body.
Oxidation is a natural process that you can see happen outside the body. Rust that forms on your cast-iron skillet is a form of oxidation. Oxidation in this case can be sped up by exposing the skillet to moisture. Left unchecked, your cast-iron skillet will be a pile of rust in a matter of time. However, you can slow down or even stop oxidation by taking care of the skillet; remove it from the source of moisture and keep a thin layer of oil over it and that skillet will last for generations.
Exposing our bodies to an abundance of peroxynitrites is like leaving that cast iron skillet out in the rain for years. Damage will occur.
Some people may feel the effects of peroxynitrites or high ammonia, but others do not recognize the symptoms. Some may feel the effects, but they treat the results of this self-propelling vicious cycle and consider it “normal”.
People with issues with excess peroxynitrite production may notice chronically cold hands and feet, inflammation, headaches and migraine headaches, sore joints and muscles, lack of motivation and fatigue, poor memory, or feeling lightheaded when a person stands up. A person may also have trouble going to sleep even though they are tired, may bruise easily, have a lack of focus and attention, get irritable, feel anxious, feel depressed, have a fine tremor that comes and goes, experience chest pain, blurry vision, have trouble getting an erection, and experience numerous gastrointestinal issues. Many people with severe elevations in peroxynitrite can’t find solutions to their issues.
Some diseases or medical conditions that have been associated with peroxynitrites include
stroke, Coronary Artery Disease, Raynaud’s, Diabetes, migraine headaches, headaches, Ulcerative Colitis or Inflammatory Bowel Disease, Cancer (specifically breast and colon), Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, Multiple Sclerosis, depression, anxiety disorders, Bipolar Disorder, asthma, COPD, autism and other spectrum disorders, pulmonary fibrosis, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, fibromyalgia, retinal issues, and erectile dysfunction, just to name a few. It has also been associated with Chronic Lyme Disease and can impair recovery from acute and chronic injuries or illness.
This harmful oxidant destroys cell membranes by oxidizing them. When it oxidizes lipids, it creates the plaques that lead to coronary artery disease. It disrupts proteins and normal enzyme functioning and will damage our DNA. It also activates an enzyme involved in DNA repair (PARP) and depletes the body of NAD+. NAD is essential for cellular metabolism in order to maintain life.
So, what can you do if you believe you may have an issue related to peroxynitrites, free radicals or ammonia? You should consult a physician that has been trained in genetics and understands the numerous genes involved in creating this harmful chemical. Your physician should understand what to look for in your environment that may also trigger the reaction that creates the excess oxidants.
The good news is that it is very treatable. Often times, addressing how the peroxynitrites are formed eliminates the “untreatable” symptoms that have been plaguing the patient for years.
We specialize in treating this oxidant at AIP. If this sounds like you, or someone you know, or if you have seen numerous practitioners and cannot find an answer, please call us to schedule an appointment.
Ralph Waldo, MD
(317) 200-3840