As I understand it, taking calcium suppliments or for that matter consuming foods high in calcium such as milk, meats, broccoli, etc. does not neccesarily lead to calcium buildup in one's arteries. There's a binder of some kind that must be present to make the calcium build up in that manner. I don't recall the specific chemistry to this, however I've heard it described a number of times from a variety of difference sources. it's not just that ingesting "too much" calcium would lead to clogged arteries or whatever, there's more to it and anyone who is at risk for bone loss and such should be getting as much calcium as they can get their hands on.
There is some evidence to suggest that genetics has a role to play on who is more suceptible to calcium related conditions, whether it's osteoparosis (I'm SURE I spelled that wrong) or hardening of the arteries or whatever. Some people don't process the calcuim in their system as effectively and deposits can for in various places where it shouldn't be forming. Calcium causes stuff like bone spurs and problems in muscle fibers as well as cirulation and heart issues, kidney or gall stones, and all kinds of other fun things that we really don't need on our lives.
But on the other side, you need calcium to be healthy.
Ask a doctor about whether or not you should be taking ANY kind of suppliment. Many suppliments may cause problems with the medications you're on, that alone, without the calcium issue, is enough to clear it with a doc. Most multi-vitamins (at least the ones I saw when I was at my pharmacy today and looked through them while waiting for my 'scrips) have vitamin K and we all know that's something to tread lightly around when on anticoagulants...
As for Bob "bashing," We all here have a wide range of experience and knowledge in relation to our heart conditions and all KINDS of other stuff.
You ask me some time about the 'cello and I'll answer just about anyhting you want to know. Ask me about digital photography and I can do the same thing, or programming your VCR or cable television law or or or...
That's the whole point. We're all hear to share our experiences, learn from eachother. Part of that experience is knowledge, either picked up from first hand experience or from "formal education" or from personal research on-line or in books at the library or whatever. We all scan right to the articles about advancements in heart surgery and heart disease in the papers or magazines. We all have a friend or family member with cancer, who's had a heart attack, who's been pregnant... We share that information, not as if we are THE authority on the subject, but as someone who has some experience beyond the person asking the question.
Nothing in here should be taken as gospel unless it comes from Ross (had to do that!) or Al Lodwick (or whoever else in here has a PhD or something hanging in their office) and if you don't understand that, maybe you should be more careful over what you're reading and doing based on what you've read.
I have a friend who used to say, "I saw it on TV so it must be true."
Last week, here in the newspaper office, I adapted it to fit a conversation we were having in the editorial department, "I saw it on the Internet so it must be true."
If you really believe that, even for a second, you've got your head too deep in the sand.
