Heart disease and cancer are among the leading causes of death in the developed world.

Even when they don’t kill, these diseases can still cause an enormous amount of suffering.

I’ve read well over one hundred studies linking H. pylori infection to heart disease and stroke but for some reason this information never makes it into the media. Instead, things like saturated fat and cholesterol are incorrectly blamed.

I’ve also read an enormous amount of literature about how dental/oral infections, heavy metals, nutrient deficiencies and other controllable factors are linked with heart disease (and other diseases).

I discuss these issues in detail in the new book and in this article series.

The medical system and media tend to blame cardiovascular diseases (heart disease and stroke) on so-called “traditional” risk factors, which include:

• High cholesterol levels
• High blood pressure
• Family history
• Diabetes
• Smoking
• Obesity
• Lack of exercise

These factors are certainly legitimate up to a point.

However risk factors such as genetics/family history and high cholesterol are coming under intense scrutiny and may not be as important as we are led to believe.

Hare’s an example of what I mean.

High cholesterol and high blood pressure are the end results of other damaging processes in the body.

As such it is vitally important to consider the reasons why blood pressure elevates and why cholesterol levels rise.

Simply taking drugs to suppress cholesterol and decrease blood pressure do absolutely nothing to address the underlying cause(s) of the problem.

It just so happens that H pylori infection appears to cause elevated blood pressure and it definitely alters blood cholesterol levels.

I’ll show you the evidence later in this series.

50% Heart Disease Patients have NONE of the Traditional Risk Factors

According to many leading cardiologists, including bestselling author Dr. Stephen Sinatra MD, it turns out that about HALF of all heart disease patients do not have any of the above risk factors.

• They don’t smoke
• They have little or no family history of cardiovascular disease
• They’re not overweight
• They don’t have high blood pressure or high cholesterol
• They are not diabetic
• They exercise frequently
• They are not under a great deal of emotional stress

Yet they still have heart disease! How can this be?

“Hidden” Cardiovascular Risk Factors

• It may surprise you to learn that quite a few studies are available suggest a cause and effect relationship between bacteria/viruses and heart disease.
•  In fact, according to Aristo Vojdani, PhD, the relationship between infectious agents and heart disease was reported as long ago as 1911.
• H. pylori infections seem to be strongly associated not only with heart disease and stroke, but also with many of the risk factors that are used to assess vulnerability to cardiovascular disorders.
•  Dental infections and oral health are heavily implicated in heart disease.
•  Heavy metals such as mercury and lead are heavily implicated in heart disease, and there’s some good research and clinical evidence to support this.
• Nutrient deficiencies are also implicated in heart disease.
• Low thyroid function is associated with heart disease and has been known since the 1940s to be a primary cause of elevated cholesterol. The thyroid can be suppressed by a multitude of factors.

In fact, when the evidence is examined carefully, it’s quite clear that heart disease, like other symptoms, illnesses and diseases, is largely the result of two factors:

•  Too much “bad stuff” being in the body
•  Bad foods (e.g. gluten, soya and polyunsaturated oils)
•  Bad bugs (e.g. H. pylori)
• Bad toxins (e.g. mercury and lead)

• Not enough “good stuff” being in the body
• Good foods (e.g. nutrient- and energy-dense unprocessed foods)
• Good bugs (e.g. probiotics)
• Good nutrients (e.g. magnesium, vitamin C, CoQ10, carnitine)
• Good hormones (e.g. thyroid hormone)

It really is this simple.

As you’ll see as I take you through this series, these concepts are backed by science, they are clinically proven and in the end, they’re just common sense once we understand how the body works.

I think this article series may shock you a little, but I believe it’s time you knew the truth about this leading killer disease and how to minimize your risk of falling foul of it.

As such I’m thoroughly looking forward to sharing this information with you over the coming days and weeks.

If you’d like to leave a question or comment, please feel free to leave it below in the space provided.

Watch this space and have a great day.

All my best,
Dave.

Get Dave Hompes’ New Book!

Click here to pre-order my new book: H. Pylori – From Heartburn to Heart Attacks
(estimated release date – 1st-10th June, 2013)

The post H. Pylori & Heart Disease appeared first on h pylori symptoms.

• Heartburn
• Acid reflux
• Bloating
• Chest pain
• Nausea
• Vomiting

However, there is a notable lack of acknowledgement in doctors’ clinics regarding H pylori symptoms outside the digestive system.

The scientific literature clearly demonstrates associations between H pylori and a whole range of unpleasant symptoms outside the gut.

Furthermore, these symptoms can develop in folk without them experiencing the common digestive symptoms.

For example, some folk simply feel tired, have low moods, struggle to sleep, or develop skin rashes. Headaches and allergic type symptoms are also common H pylori symptoms.

Some people don’t have any symptoms whatsoever related to H pylori, in fact it is believed that 70% or more H pylori infections are aysmptomatic. However this is a dangerous situation.

In my book, H Pylori: From Heartburn to Heart Disease, I present a great deal of research that clearly shows H pylori infection can cause the following metabolic changes or conditions without causing any obvious symptoms whatsoever:

• High cholesterol (increased LDL and decreased LDL cholesterol)
• Increased lipoprotein-b (a major heart disease risk factor)
• Chronic inflammation – a risk for heart disease
• Oxidative damage – a risk for heart disease
• High blood pressure
• Insulin resistance
• Elevated C-reactive protein, homocysteine, fetuin-A, all of which are heart disease risk factors.

Again, to reiterate these changes can happen in the body without folk experiencing any symptoms whatsoever.

By increasing oxidative damage, chronic inflammation, changes in cholesterol profiles, blood pressure, homocysteine and others, H pylori infection clearly becomes a major risk factor for heart disease, but you don’t ever see or hear this in the media.

As well, research clearly indicates a relationship between H pylori infection, heart disease, heart attacks and strokes.

Studies show that H pylori infections – especially the Cag-A strain – are positively associated with virtually all aspects of cardiovascular disease:

• H pylori increases ischemic heart disease incidence
• H pylori increases the severity of atherosclerosis (narrowing of the arteries)
• H pylori increases heart attacks
• H pylori increases angina

Heart disease is not the only insidious disease affected by H pylori infections.

In some people, chronic stomach inflammation caused by H pylori leads to a condition called atrophic gastritis, where the stomach lining is worn away.

Atrophic gastritis is a known risk factor for stomach cancer, yet atrophic gastritis can develop in people without them experiencing any common symptoms whatsoever.

So there you have it – H pylori can no longer be considered as an infection that simply causes a few common digestive symptoms.

It has the potential to cause – or contribute to – practically any symptom, given its ability to cause chronic inflammation and oxidative stress, both of which are processes that are known to underpin every disease, including cancer and heart disease.

H pylori infection is associated with gallbladder disease, colon cancer, pancreatic disease, liver disease, headaches and migraines, skin diseases, reactive arthritis, thyroid disease and many other chronic illnesses.

It is known to cause a lowering of stomach acid levels, which reduces B₁₂ and folic acid absorption, leading to depression, fatigue and neurological disorders and increasing homocysteine, a heart disease risk factor.

Even without common symptoms, H pylori clearly influences blood pressure, insulin sensitivity, metabolic syndrome and cholesterol levels, thus creating risk for heart disease.

Finally, H pylori infections can lead to atrophic gastritis, which in turn increases the risk of developing stomach cancer in some people. Yet again, people can slip into these situation without ever experiencing any of the common, or even uncommon, H pylori symptoms.

For more than half a decade, I have specialized in helping my clients deal with these situations.

Therefore if you have common digestive symptoms, if you have been diagnosed with H pylori or if you are concerned that you are feeling unwell for any reason, please feel free to get in touch.

I recommend you first download the free material available on this website, or consider booking phone or Skype consultation.

To your health,

Dave Hompes.

The post A List of “Uncommon H. Pylori Symptoms” appeared first on h pylori symptoms.

A Costa Rican study examined the extent to which different H pylori strains damage the stomach. According to the researchers, Costa Rica is one of the countries with the highest incidence and death rates from stomach cancer.
The aim of this particular study was to determine if different H pylori strains were linked with atrophic gastritis in people with dyspepsia.

In the study, which involved 264 people, H pylori infection was determined by PCR and serology. The presence of three H pylori strains was determined. These were:
•    CagA
•    VacA
•    BabA2

73% of the study group was infected with H pylori. 6% presented normal stomach mucosa, 68% presented inflammation but not atrophic gastritis and 26% presented with atrophic gastritis.

The researchers found that people who were infected with the CagA and VacA strains tended to have a greater degree of atrophic gastritis than people who were diagnosed with the BabA strain.

Atrophic gastritis is a known risk factor for stomach cancer. It is a condition in which the stomach lining is severely worn away through chronic inflammation and damage caused by H pylori. The fact that CagA strains in particular, were associated with an increase in atrophic gastritis in this study, is interesting because CagA H pylori strains are associated with increased stomach cancer risk.

In my research I have also found that CagA H pylori bacteria are also associated with the development of heart disease, as well as many of its risk factors.

Reference

J. Garita-Cambronero. Association of H. pylori virulence factors with atrophic gastritis in dyspeptic patients from a population at high risk of gastric cancer in Costa Rica. European Helicobacter Study Group. XXIII International Workshop on Helicobacter and Related Bacteria in Chronic Digestive Inflammation and Gastric Cancer. Rotterdam, September 16–18, 2010. P. 370.
Dave Hompes’ Comments
There is no doubt that different H pylori strains have the ability to cause different levels of damage in the body. My biggest concern around this topic is the medical system does not acknowledge the severity of possible outcomes from having H pylori.
H pylori infection causes stomach cancer.

H pylori infection causes – or at least contributes to – heart disease
In other words, H pylori is not just some stupid bacterium that causes a few digestive symptoms and the occasional ulcer. It poses a serious threat to human health.

Unfortunately, different H pylori strains tend not to be identified outside the research setting. A blanket diagnosis of H pylori is given to patients without any knowledge of the possible impact of these different strains.
Because H pylori treatments are only around 70% effective, failure to eradicate certain strains of the bacterium may lead to serious consequences.

The post Does H pylori influence gut damage in infected people appeared first on h pylori symptoms.

It is now firmly established that H pylori infections cause iron deficiency in both adults and children. The 2012 Maastricht Consensus clearly states:

“The association of H pylori with unexplained iron-deficiency anaemia has been conclusively proved in adult and paediatric populations. Two separate meta-analyses in recent years have supported this association, with one illustrating a clear link between H pylori infection and iron-deficiency anaemia¹ and the other showing that H pylori eradication increases haemoglobin levels in these patients.²”

This has significant implications regarding specific H pylori symptoms that are likely to be experienced by infected people.

If we look at the symptoms of iron-deficiency listed at the NHS and Pubmed websites – in other words authority medical sites – we see:

• Feeling grumpy
• Feeling weak or tired more often than usual, or with exercise
• Headaches
• Problems concentrating or thinking

Interesting, huh – given that H pylori causes anemia, feeling grumpy, weak, tired, having headaches, having problems concentrating, etc. are actually H pylori symptoms.

Why do we not see these symptoms listed next to H pylori on the medical websites?

The Pubmed website goes on to state:

As the anemia gets worse, symptoms may include:

• Blue color to the whites of the eyes
• Brittle nails
• Light-headedness when you stand up
• Pale skin color
• Shortness of breath
• Sore tongue

Wow – now we see a further list of symptoms open up in front of us, all of which have to be considered H pylori symptoms because the infection is known to cause anemia.

Again, we don’t see these symptoms listed next to H pylori on the medical sites and few doctors associate these symptoms with H pylori infections.

Importantly, H Pylori can cause all these symptoms without the usual symptoms of heartburn, acid reflux, bloating, nausea and vomiting. This is one of the reasons H pylori is such a menace.

H pylori can sit in the stomach where it gradually reduces stomach acid levels by damaging the stomach lining and cells that product stomach acid. As the stomach acid levels drop, people can’t digest food effectively. When this happens, iron absorption decreases, gradually leading to anemia.

A person can begin to feel tired, lethargic, listless or any of the symptoms listed above and yet they have no idea why it’s all happening.

Because most doctors do not associate fatigue and lethargy, etc., with a stomach infection, they don’t test for H pylori. Furthermore, the medical websites do not list fatigue, lethargy, brittle nails, pale complexion, depression, shortness of breath, sore tongue, etc. next to H pylori.

But when we use a little common sense, it’s completely obvious that if H pylori causes iron-deficiency anemia and iron deficiency anemia causes all these symptoms, we have to make the statement:

“H pylori infection causes fatigue, lethargy, depression, sore tongue, pale complexion, shortness of breath, headaches, concentration problems, brittle headedness, lightheadedness and more…”

References

Qu X.H, Does Helicobacter pylori infection play a role in iron deficiency anemia? A meta-analysis. World J Gastroenterol 2010;16:886–96.

Muhsen K & Cohen D. Helicobacter pylori infection and iron stores: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Helicobacter 2008;13:323–40.

Recommendations That May Help You Overcome H Pylori:

• If you have Helicobacter pylori and want to learn more about it without staring at a computer screen for hours on end, all the information on this website, as well as detailed diet and supplement program for healing your digestive system can be found in my book, The H Pylori Diet.
• In the book, I teach you how to use natural stomach healing protocols, including products containing bismuth, in the appropriate doses and for the optimal duration.

• To have a healthy gut lining, parasites, fungal overgrowth and other unwanted digestive system invaders should be removed. Read about our comprehensive stool testing services to find out how this powerful tool can help you overcome chronic symptoms. Click here for more information.

• If you would like one-to-one, discreet, personalized support from one of the Hompes Method team, please click here. Ever since I was diagnosed with H pylori in 2007 – having eradicated it using diet changes, herbs and nutritional supplements – it has been my mission to help people like you around the world understand and overcome health challenges using an integrated health approach. Where possible we work closely with the medical profession to combine the best of conventional medicine with our cutting edge clinical nutrition and functional medicine techniques. It is our hope that we can help you achieve your health related goals.

If you have questions, please do not hesitate to contact us by using the web-form, below.

In love and light,

Dave Hompes & The Hompes Method team.

The post Iron Deficiency Anemia appeared first on h pylori symptoms.

Celiac disease is a serious condition in which dietary gluten (in wheat, rye, barley) triggers an inflammatory reaction in the small intestine. H pylori causes an inflammatory reaction in the stomach, so it’s easy to see how these conditions cause similar symptoms.

It is believed that 50% of the world’s population carries H pylori. Conservative estimates suggest that 1% of the western population has celiac disease, but it’s also believed that only one in eight people are correctly diagnosed.

Celiac disease is the tip of the iceberg. Non-celiac disease gluten sensitivity is thought by some doctors, including Dr. Kenneth Fine MD, to affect up to 80% of the population! In other words, you do not have to have celiac disease to suffer from gluten intolerance or sensitivity, and gluten intolerance is far more widespread than celiac disease.

It should be noted that the very first recommendation I give to my clients, no matter what their health complaints are, is to switch to a gluten-free diet. Even when H pylori has been diagnosed, I’ve seen multiple symptoms disappear when gluten was eliminated from a client’s diet, long before H pylori has been eradicated.

For more information on my strategy, you may like to read the book The H Pylori Diet.

One of my biggest concerns is that gluten and H pylori can affect children, impacting their growth and development. An excellent study reported the resolution of iron-deficiency anemia in children with either celiac disease, H pylori or both.

According to the researchers, H pylori is one of the most widespread infections worldwide. The infection has been recognized as a cause of chronic gastritis, peptic ulcer, atrophic gastritis and stomach cancer, but it also causes iron-deficiency anemia, growth and extra-digestive diseases (i.e. diseases outside the gut)

The study analyzed the prevalence of celiac disease and H pylori in young patients with resistant iron deficiency anemia.

20 patients with iron-deficiency anemia that had not responded to iron therapy for 3 months were studied. Blood samples were taken and analyzed for celiac disease markers.

Stool antigen (HPSA) and a urea breath test (UBT) were performed on all patients to diagnose H pylori.

H pylori infection was positive in 13 out of 20 patients.

Celiac disease was diagnosed in 5 out of 20 patients.

All positive H pylori patients were treated using triple therapy. They were also given iron supplementation.

The 5 patients with celiac disease were given a gluten-free diet rich in iron.

The researchers found that in the celiac disease patients who were put on a gluten-free diet, the anemia was resolved.

The eradication of H pylori infection, along with iron therapy corrected the anemia.

Reference

European Helicobacter Study Group. XXIII International Workshop on Helicobacter and Related Bacteria in Chronic Digestive Inflammation and Gastric Cancer. Rotterdam, September 16–18, 2010. P. 376.

Dave Hompes’ Comments

Gluten intolerance and H pylori infections are serious problems in children and should not be taken lightly. Both gluten and H pylori can cause significant damage to the stomach and intestine, resulting in the inability to digest and absorb nutrients effectively.

If children can’t absorb nutrients due damaged stomach and intestinal tissue, secondary to H pylori and gluten, their development and growth can be compromised.

The medical system focuses on iron, but many nutrients can become depleted when the gut is inflamed and damaged. Calcium, zinc, magnesium, B₁₂, amino acids, vitamins A, D, E and K should all be considered.

The scientific literature shows that people infected with H pylori can have lower levels of vitamin B₁₂, folic acid, iron, amino acids and antioxidants. In turn, these deficiencies can lead to a multitude of symptoms, ranging from digestive problems to fatigue, attention deficit, skin complaints and stunted growth.

In my opinion, any child with the above symptoms should be tested for both celiac disease and H pylori.

My book, The H Pylori Diet teaches you how to use a gluten-free diet and our comprehensive digestive test services enable parents to identify a whole host of chronic digestive infections and gluten intolerance in their children.

In love and light,

Dave Hompes & The Hompes Method team

The post H Pylori, Celiac Disease & Iron Deficiency Anemia in Children appeared first on h pylori symptoms.

Have you tried to eradicate H pylori only to find that your symptoms didn’t budge, or even worsened? Perhaps you also have a Candida overgrowth…

Over the last half-decade, I have evaluated well over one thousand patient stool test results. The most commonly detected digestive invader is definitely H pylori and many times – I’d say more than 30% of the time, in fact – there is a concomitant Candida overgrowth in my patient’s digestive tract.

This presents a problem, because the Candida can cause the same or similar symptoms as the H pylori itself. Thus, when H pylori bacteria are safely eradicated, symptoms can remain or even worsen if the Candida overgrowth is not dealt with.

The relationship between H pylori and Candida appears quite complex. Research indicates that oral Candida may act as a reservoir for H. pylori that could cause reinfection after successful H pylori treatment. In other words you could take H pylori triple therapy antibiotics, eliminate H pylori from your stomach, only for it to return weeks or months later because it was hanging around in your mouth inside Candida organisms.

One interesting study showed that both oral and gastric (stomach) yeasts could

harbour H pylori in their vacuole. This indicates that Candida could play an important role in accumulating H pylori in the gastro-intestinal tract.

Reference

F. Siavoshi et al. Tracing H. pylori in the Oral and Gastric Yeasts by PCR and Live/Dead kit. Helicobacter Study Group. XXIII International Workshop on Helicobacter and Related Bacteria in Chronic Digestive Inflammation and Gastric Cancer. Rotterdam, September 16–18, 2010. P. 374.

Dave Hompes’ Comments

My approach to dealing with H pylori has always been, and always will be, to look at the problem holistically. All too often I have seen people treat H pylori only to find their symptoms didn’t budge. In other cases, I’ve seen people recover briefly, only to crash again a few weeks after completing treatment.

In more than 50% of the client laboratory tests I’ve interpreted, I’ve seen co-infections sitting in the digestive tract alongside H pylori. These co-infections can be other bacteria (e.g. Salmonella, E. coli and C. difficile), parasites (e.g. Blastocystis hominis, Giardia, Cryptosporidium, Hookworm) or yeast and fungal organisms such as Candida.

Unless you run a comprehensive stool test to assess your own “bad bug” burden, there is no way of knowing whether you are harboring any of these co-infections and H pylori is just the tip of the iceberg.

Unfortunately, the medical system does not recognize chronic yeast overgrowth in the stomach and intestine, although it does recognize vaginal and oral thrush, along with athlete’s foot, all of which are caused by yeast overgrowth (this always seems a bit dumb to me because yeast can overgrow in any area protected by a mucus membrane – mouth, throat, stomach, intestine, vaginal tract, etc.)

If you are struggling to improve your symptoms, or to overcome H pylori, why not take a look at the comprehensive stool testing services we offer. A stool test may just provide the missing piece in your health jigsaw puzzle, and with expert interpretation and consultation, I am sure we can help you feel better, fast.

The post H Pylori and Candida appeared first on h pylori symptoms.

It then provides a summary of how to negotiate the minefield of information on overcoming such symptoms to help you restore optimal digestive and overall health.

It is now firmly established that H pylori infections cause iron deficiency in both adults and children. Because iron deficiency causes many symptoms in its own right, we can only conclude that H pylori infection causes the symptoms that are generally ascribed to iron deficiency anemia.

The 2012 Maastricht Consensus on H pylori states:

“The association of H pylori with unexplained iron-deficiency anaemia has been conclusively proved in adult and paediatric populations. Two separate meta-analyses in recent years have supported this association, with one illustrating a clear link between H pylori infection and iron-deficiency anaemia1 and the other showing that H pylori eradication increases haemoglobin levels in these patients.2”

When an investigation into the symptoms of iron-deficiency anemia is conducted on standard medical websites such as PubMed, the NHS, Medscape and others, the following symptom lists appear:

• Feeling grumpy
• Feeling weak or tired more often than usual, or with exercise
• Headaches
• Problems concentrating or thinking

Interesting, isn’t it? Given that H pylori causes iron deficiency anemia, surely symptoms such as grumpiness, weakness, fatigue, headaches, problems in focus and concentration and others are actually H pylori symptoms.

Why then, do we not see these symptoms listed next to H pylori on the medical websites? I honestly do not know the answer to this question, but I do see this lack of connection between H pylori, iron deficiency and symptoms as a major problem that will deny patients vital information.

The reason why H pylori infections create iron-deficiency anemia is obvious and well-documented in the medical literature. It is simply that in many people, inflammation in the stomach lining caused by H pylori damages the parietal cells that are responsible for producing stomach acid.

Low stomach acid, technically known as hypochlorhydria prevents the proper digestion of food. If minerals such as iron are not released from food due to low stomach acid levels, iron deficiency can develop. It’s a very simple concept. Furthermore, the affected minerals and nutrients extend far and beyond iron.

The Pubmed website goes on to state that as anemia worsens, additional symptoms may include:

• Blue color to the whites of the eyes
• Brittle nails
• Light-headedness when you stand up
• Pale skin color
• Shortness of breath
• Sore tongue

Wow – now we see a further list of symptoms open up in front of us, all of which have to be considered H pylori symptoms because the infection is known to cause anemia.

Unfortunately, when folk are feeling tired, low, lethargic and experience other symptoms from the lists above, standard medical websites do no link the symptoms with digestive infections such as H pylori. Furthermore, most doctors are trained to consider H pylori when folk have heartburn, acid reflux and other common digestive symptoms.

It’s important to note that H pylori infections can cause symptoms such as fatigue, depression, lethargy and others mentioned here without causing any digestive symptoms whatsoever. I hope this article provides a “missing link” of sorts, and helps you realize there’s a lot more to H pylori than a little bit of heartburn.

A further consideration in this debate is that H pylori infections have been shown to affect vitamin B12 levels in infected individuals. Recall that H pylori can damage the stomach cells responsible for producing acid. These cells are also responsible for producing a substance called intrinsic factor, without which vitamin B12 cannot be properly absorbed.

Indeed, H pylori infected individuals have been conclusively shown to have a tendency towards lower B12 levels and B12 deficiency in the scientific literature. When we explore the symptoms associated with insufficiency in this important nutrient, we once again come across fatigue, depression, lethargy, neurological complaints and others.

In one of my favourite books – Why Stomach Acid is Good For You – by Dr. Jonathan Wright, MD and Dr. Lane Leonard, MD, the authors tell us how, in their respective clinics, there is virtually no nutrient that hasn’t increased in patients who corrected their stomach acid level. In other words, vitamin and mineral status as a whole improves when stomach acid levels are optimized. Because H pylori infection is a major cause of low stomach acid, we have to consider the infection as having the potential to cause significant nutrition and malnutrition, which in turn can lead to pretty much any symptom in the body.

Having experienced and overcome the unpleasant symptoms of H pylori myself, having researched the infection in extreme detail over the last half-decade and having helped literally thousands of people understand and overcome their H pylori-related health challenges, I am concerned about the lack of information linking H pylori to symptoms outside the gut.

Fifty per cent of the world’s population carries H pylori and 75% of those people won’t experience any obvious symptoms. Nonetheless, H pylori can cause significant changes in metabolism even in the absence of obvious symptoms and I feel the bacteria should be considered in all cases of general malaise, depression and chronic fatigue, as well a host of other symptoms.

It is my hope that this article has helped you realize that H pylori can cause a lot of problems. If your doctor questions this information, refer him or her to the “Management of Helicobacter pylori infection—Maastricht IV/ Florence Consensus Report” online. This is the most up to date medical information on H pylori and is publicly available for all to see.

What can you do to ensure your energy levels are optimized? Well, if you have H pylori already, it’s best to make sure you eradicate it as quickly as possible. Medical treatment using triple therapy is approximately 70% effective and is certainly worth trying. Be aware, however, that the treatment can cause side effects.

Herbal treatments are available for H pylori and they work, as long as they are used appropriately and with a full understanding of their limitations. Mastic gum, vitamin U, Matula Herbal Formula, berberine, bismuth and garlic extract and probiotics can all be combined to safely and effectively remove H pylori.

Consumption of a nutrient-dense diet is also important. In my practice, I frequently have to coach clients to help optimize their diets. Even when H pylori has gone, there is no guarantee folk will feel better if food intake is not optimized. Foods such as soya, gluten, processed cow’s milk and polyunsaturated vegetable oils directly irritate the gut and compromise digestion. Therefore, dietary optimization also ensures optimal healing of the damaged stomach and intestinal tissue.

Article References

1. Qu X.H, Does Helicobacter pylori infection play a role in iron deficiency anemia? A meta-analysis. World J Gastroenterol 2010;16:886–96.

2. Muhsen K & Cohen D. Helicobacter pylori infection and iron stores: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Helicobacter 2008;13:323–40.

The post How H Pylori Infection Makes You Tired & What To Do About It appeared first on h pylori symptoms.

One of the problems associated with H pylori is that it can wreak havoc on the digestive system without causing obvious symptoms. Some people do have terrible H pylori symptoms including burning, gnawing and acid reflux in the upper digestive system, belching, bloating and constipation or diarrhea. Some folk have symptoms elsewhere in the body, including fatigue, depression, urticarial, rosacea and headaches. But in people who have no symptoms at all, H pylori may still insidiously lead to stomach cancer in some people. This fact was proven in a 2010 study.

The authors begin their report by stating the following facts about H pylori and cancer:

H. pylori initiates the pathway of gastric carcinogenesis which follows from gastritis through atrophic gastritis (AG), to intestinal metaplasia (IM), dysplasia (DYS) and malignancy.

The presence of these lesions in the general population is a predictor for gastric cancer incidence in the coming decades. Most subjects with H pylori infection and premalignant gastric lesions are asymptomatic.

I have placed the last sentence in bold font to stress its importance. What they are saying is that many people with pre-cancerous lesions in the stomach do not have any symptoms.

The researchers examined 383 patients, undergoing endoscopy. Biopsies were taken from two areas of the stomach – the antrum and corpus, and also where visible abnormalities were found in the tissues. Their study conclusion was as follows:

There is a considerable prevalence of premalignant gastric lesions in asymptomatic subjects. This means that gastric cancer will remain a prevalent disease in western countries.

Unfortunately the researchers did not appear to study whether the lesions found in the study population were associated with H pylori. They simply stated that pre-cancerous lesions were found in 9.3% of the study population, with H pylori present in 22% of the population.

Nevertheless, whether the subjects infected with H pylori had a higher incidence of stomach cancer or not, 9.3% of any asymptomatic population with pre-cancerous changes in stomach tissue is a hell of a lot of people.

In other words, if you took 9.3% of all the people in the world aged over 55, you’d have a lot of people at risk of developing stomach cancer.

Reference

C. M. den Hoed. Prevalence of premalignant changes in the stomach of patients undergoing routine colonoscopy; a cohort study. European Helicobacter Study Group. XXIII International Workshop on Helicobacter and Related Bacteria in Chronic Digestive Inflammation and Gastric Cancer. Rotterdam, September 16–18, 2010. P.318.

Dave Hompes’ Comments

It’s major concern that many GPs in the NHS and, in fact, all over the world, do not acknowledge H pylori as a serious problem. As I explain in my free e-book, H Pylori – From Heartburn to Heart Disease & Cancer, this simple stomach infection can lead to serious complications.

Furthermore, the fact that H pylori infection can seemingly lead to pre-cancerous changes in the stomach tissue without causing obvious H pylori symptoms means that folk could fall foul to stomach cancer without ever being tested for H pylori.

As I’ve said in several other articles on this website, and in my publications, if the medical system wants to make vaccines mandatory, and wants all adults over 50 to take statins to keep cholesterol down, it should also make H pylori screening compulsory in adults over 50 or 55 years of age.

After all, H pylori infection – especially the CagA strain – is a risk factor for insulin resistance, high blood pressure, stroke, coronary artery disease, blood lipid changes, B₁₂ and folic acid deficiency, which increases homocysteine (a heart disease marker) and, of course stomach cancer.

When does it become negligence to dismiss H pylori as “harmless”?

Recommendations That May Help You Overcome H Pylori:

• If you have Helicobacter pylori and want to learn more about it without staring at a computer screen for hours on end, all the information on this website, as well as detailed diet and supplement program for healing your digestive system can be found in my book, The H Pylori Diet.

• The program in The H Pylori Diet also helps you remove foods that cause a leaky gut, whilst replacing them with delicious alternatives.

• To have a healthy gut lining, parasites, fungal overgrowth and other unwanted invaders should be removed. Read about our comprehensive stool testing services to find out how this powerful tool can help you overcome chronic symptoms. Click here for more information.

• If you would like one-to-one, discreet, personalized support from one of the Hompes Method team, please click here. Ever since I was diagnosed with H pylori in 2007 – having eradicated it using diet changes, herbs and nutritional supplements – it has been my mission to help people like you around the world understand and overcome health challenges using an integrated health approach. Where possible we work closely with the medical profession to combine the best of conventional medicine with our cutting edge clinical nutrition and functional medicine techniques. It is our hope that we can help you achieve your health related goals.

If you have questions, please do not hesitate to contact us by using the web-form, below.

In love and light,

Dave Hompes & The Hompes Method team

The post H Pylori Causes Cancerous Lesions even in Asymptomatic Patients appeared first on h pylori symptoms.

Osteoporosis is characterized by reductions in bone density, leading to fractures in vulnerable areas such as the wrists and hips, in addition to degradation of vertebrae. As such it is a serious problem. Theoretically, there are several reasons why H pylori infection could contribute to osteoporosis in some people.

• H pylori can cause stomach acid levels to decrease over time, leading to poor absorption of calcium and other minerals (this is shown in several studies and discussed in my book, The Hompes Method).
• Inflammation caused by H pylori infections can stimulate the breakdown of bone by increasing hormones such as cortisol.
• As cortisol increases due to H pylori-induced inflammation, there is a concomitant reduction in bone-building hormones such as progesterone and testosterone.

A recent study conducted by researchers in Siena, Italy, reported on the influence of H pylori infection on the bone mineral density and bone markers in a large population cohort.

To conduct their study, the researchers took 1118 individuals and examined them for H pylori infection. In people with H pylori, they then checked for CagA status (CagA H pylori is a virulent strain, associated with cancer and heart disease).

The study revealed no difference between the infection rates of H pylori in people with osteoporosis compared with those who had normal bone density.

However, the prevalence of CagA+ H pylori infection in osteoporotic and osteopenic patients was significantly higher than that in subjects with normal BMD. The anti-CagA antibody titer was significantly and negatively associated with BMD at different sites in males as well as in females. Above the median anti-CagA antibody level, only 14% of males and 30% of females had normal bone mineral density.

The researchers concluded their findings with the following statement:

CagA+ H pylori infection may be considered a risk factor for osteoporosis and fractures in males as well as in females

Reference

N. Figura et al. H. pylori (HP) infection and osteoporosis: a population based study. European Helicobacter Study Group. XXIII International Workshop on Helicobacter and Related Bacteria in Chronic Digestive Inflammation and Gastric Cancer. Rotterdam, September 16–18, 2010. P.334-5.

Dave Hompes’ Comments

Osteoporosis is becoming a big problem and there is little doubt in my mind that H pylori can contribute to the development of this disease. H pylori infection prevents proper stomach acid production by damaging the stomach’s parietal cells (cells that make the acid). Over time, atrophic gastritis can develop, a condition that is common in people aged 55 and over.

If stomach acid is too low, minerals and amino acids – both of which are needed for proper bone formation – are not digested properly and cannot be absorbed effectively.

However, as I point out in The Hompes Method, in the majority of cases, it’s not H pylori that’s to blame for complex diseases like osteoporosis: it’s diet and lifestyle.

Nutrients, including vitamins D and K, are also very low in a substantial proportion of the population. Vitamin D is needed for calcium absorption and plays a vital role in bone health. Vitamin K is needed to ensure the calcium is transported to, and “dropped off” at, the right places once it’s in the bloodstream.

Gluten intolerance & celiac disease, food allergies and other chronic infections can also compromise gut function. Poor food choices via diets rich in processed food and low in high quality nutrients also cause deterioration of bone health.

Anything that compromises the gut’s ability to process food can lead to problems in musculoskeletal health but the medical system chooses to overlook this and prescribe drugs in a vain attempt to rebuild bone.

If you have problems with bone health, it is absolutely critical to ensure that you optimize gut function, nutrient intake and hormonal balance. Taking drugs like Reclast, Fosamax, Zometa and Boniva does not address the root cause of bone disease.

Recommendations That May Help You Overcome H Pylori & Its Symptoms

• If you have Helicobacter pylori and want to learn more about it without staring at a computer screen for hours on end, all the information on this website, as well as detailed diet and supplement program for healing your digestive system can be found in my book, The H Pylori Diet.

• If you have osteoporosis, get a complete blood count from your doctor and have it interpreted by a nutritional therapist qualified to read the test**

• Get your vitamin D and vitamin K levels checked**

• Optimize diet, digestion and mineral consumption*

• Remove bad bugs from your diet**

• Check adrenal, thyroid and sex hormone levels – these are critical in bone health**

**We are able to run and interpret these tests for you.

If you would like one-to-one, discreet, personalized support from one of the Hompes Method team, please click here. Ever since I was diagnosed with H pylori in 2007 – having eradicated it using diet changes, herbs and nutritional supplements – it has been my mission to help people like you around the world understand and overcome health challenges using an integrated health approach. Where possible we work closely with the medical profession to combine the best of conventional medicine with our cutting edge clinical nutrition and functional medicine techniques. It is our hope that we can help you achieve your health related goals.

If you have questions, please do not hesitate to contact us by using the web-form, below.

In love and light,

Dave Hompes & The Hompes Method team

The post Can H pylori Infection cause Osteoporosis? appeared first on h pylori symptoms.

According to the main medical websites, early stomach cancer symptoms may include:

• Persistent indigestion
• Trapped wind
• Frequent belching and burping
• Heartburn and acid reflux-type symptoms
• Full feeling that quickly develops upon eating
• Bloating
• Stomach pain
• Lump in throat or difficulty swallowing
• Feeling nauseous and sick
• Vomiting (which may contain blood)

The symptoms of peptic ulcers and H pylori infection are basically the same as those listed above. Likewise, the symptoms of other chronic digestive infections, gluten sensitivity and food allergies can mimic stomach cancer symptoms. Interestingly:

• Research indicates that 1-3% of people infected with H pylori will go on to develop stomach cancer.
• According to the European Helicobacter Study Group, H pylori infection is the number one risk for stomach cancer.
• The World Health Organization classifies H pylori as a class I carcinogen, which places it in the same category as asbestos and cigarette smoking for lung cancer.

This is scary stuff.

Stomach Cancer “Alarm” Symptoms

Doctors will specifically suspect stomach cancer is you experience difficult swallowing and/or have indigestion in combination with one or more of the following:

• Weight loss
• Being sick frequently
• Anemia (a reduction in red blood cells, which can result in feelings of fatigue and shortness of breath)
• Yellowing of your eyes and skin (jaundice)
• A swollen mass in your upper abdomen

These symptoms are considered to be even more important in people who are over 55. Other factors considered important when considering stomach cancer symptoms include:

• Family history of stomach cancer
• Previous surgery for peptic ulcers
• Barrett’s Esophagus – where abnormal cells begin to develop on the inner lining of the esophagus, or “food pipe”
• Pernicious anemia – a condition where vitamin B₁₂ cannot be absorbed properly due to stomach damage
• Dysplasia – an abnormal collection of cells that are not actually cancerous but could turn cancerous at a later date
• Gastritis – this is inflammation of the stomach lining

Advanced Stomach Cancer Symptoms

The symptoms of more advanced stomach cancer may include:

• Blood in your stools, or black stools
• Loss of appetite
• Weight loss
• Tiredness
• Lumpiness in your stomach (caused by a build-up of fluid)
• Anaemia

Again, some of these stomach cancer symptoms tend to be quite common in the population and may not necessarily indicate stomach cancer.

Atrophic Gastritis

Atrophic gastritis is a common disorder in people aged over 60. The stomach lining is gradually worn away, or degraded, by chronic infections such as H pylori as well as other factors.

Atrophic gastritis is known to be a risk factor for stomach cancer and can be identified through endoscopy.

It is important to get any possible symptoms of stomach cancer checked out as soon as possible – only a medical doctor or gastro specialist can diagnose stomach cancer. 

Remember that H pylori infection is a major risk factor for stomach cancer. This is one of the reasons why it must be tested if you have persistent digestive symptoms and why it must be treated if it is detected.

As always, I hope you found this article helpful.

Dave Hompes.

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