Diseases & Conditions
Chelation for heart disease
Q. Does chelation therapy work for heart disease? I have a friend who swears it will help him avoid having a second heart attack.
A. The benefits of chelation are unclear but the procedure has real risks. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that over 100,000 Americans have used chelation in the past year (although not only for heart disease). The therapy involves intravenous infusions of a chemical called EDTA, which binds to minerals like calcium and removes them from the body. Proponents believe the chelation shrinks calcium-rich blockages, called plaques, found in the blood vessels of people with heart disease.
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