Laser Therapy and Cardiovascular Disease

David Rindge, AP, DOM, RN

"Robert" was a 71-year-old diabetic with a long history of hypertension and heart disease.
One day, he stopped taking all nine of his medications (three of which were for blood
pressure) and showed up at our office, diaphoretic and pale. His blood pressure measured
220/125, and it was suggested that he take his drugs. He adamantly refused. He was
treated three times, approximately five days apart, with supravascular laser therapy and
acupuncture, and also was given herbs.

Robert's Blood Pressure Measurements

Visit BP Pre-Treatment BP Post-Treatment
1st visit 220/125 195/115
nd
2 visit 190/110 160/98
rd
3 visit 160/92 148/88

Note that pre-treatment blood pressure readings moved downward progressively, not just
readings taken after treatment.
Cardiovascular disease is our number one killer. One-third of Americans have one or
more forms of it. Cardiovascular disease is a condition that is broadly defined, including
anything affecting the heart or blood vessels. According to one estimate, our average life
expectancy would increase by seven years if cardiovascular disease were eliminated.1
The mainstream model seeks in large part to "manage" cardiovascular disease with
pharmaceuticals, or to bypass or physically reopen blocked vessels through surgical
intervention or angioplasty. These methods have proven highly useful in saving countless
lives. Yet science has continued to move forward and there are new options to be
explored.
In particular, the use of laser therapy in treating cardiovascular disease has researchers
talking. Here's what they have to say:
• The treatment has been shown to have anti-anginal, antihypertensive effects, to
improve cardiac performance and myocardial contractility, and to increase
myocardial, coronary and aerobic reserves. This clinicofunctional efficacy was
accompanied by positive shifts in lipid metabolism, lipid peroxidation activity,
antioxidant defense, hemocoagulation and microcirculation.2
• Laser treatment significantly lowered systolic, diastolic and mean arterial
pressure. Moreover, diastolic arterial pressure did not elevate high at submaximal
bicycle exercise. Total peripheral vascular resistance also decreased. A good
hypotensive effect was achieved in 90.4 percent of cases.3

• Use of low-intensity laser irradiation in the rehabilitation of patients with

borderline hypertension during the sanatorium stage strikingly enhanced the
efficiency of the therapy administered. It can be prescribed to patients irrespective
of their hemodynamic types.4

• The efficiency of supravascular laser exposure in multiple-modality treatment of

patients with atherosclerosis obliterans with distal vascular lesions has been
demonstrated and the method of noninvasive laser exposure of the lower limbs
validated.5

• The use of laserpuncture allowed patients to reduce their dosage of hypotensive

drugs.6

• Patients with FC I-III exertional angina can derive benefit from laser therapy due
to its cardioprotective effect. Positive hemodynamic shifts were accompanied by
improvement in general health of patients, manifested by lower frequency of
angina attacks and episodes of pain-free ischemia of the myocardium. Laser
therapy had an effect on the relation between painful and painless ischemia of the
myocardium, as evidenced by a predominant decrease in pain-free episodes of
myocardial ischemia, this being regarded as a prognostically favorable fact.7

• Intravenous laser therapy had a wider spectrum of effects on erythrocyte number

than medication. Changes in erythrocyte number in the peripheral blood upon
intravenous laser radiation reflects the efficiency of treatment of coronary heart
disease patients.8

• During an eight-year period, patients with atherosclerosis and renal dysfunction

were treated with intravenous laser blood irradiation (ILBI). The study
demonstrated a decreased level of total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol and
triglycerides with a simultaneous increase of HDL cholesterol levels. No
pharmaceuticals were given during the treatment period. The authors state that
ILBI results in a stable hypolipidemic situation that prevents atherogenesis in
patients with metabolic disorders, particularly in patients with renal pathologies.9

• Levels of fibrinogen, platelet aggregation, blood viscosity, anti-thrombin III, and

fibrinogen fragments were investigated before applying laser light and on the fifth
and 10th day after treatment. Laser therapy lessened cardiac pain and arrhythmias.
Improvement of the clinical state of the patients was accompanied with
improvement of hemorheological properties. Normal readings for blood viscosity,
fibrinogen and platelet aggregation were obtained on the 10th day. Each of these
 factors reflects its positive effect on the disseminated intravascular coagulation.
The results showed that laser therapy improved hemorheological properties of
blood, which can be compared with the improving clinical state of patients with
acute myocardial infarction.10

• In 1984, this method was employed in the treatment of 133 patients. Of these
patients, 102 were with atherosclerosis obliterans of the lower limb vessels, 17
with endarteritis obliterans, and 14 with Raynaud's syndrome. Intravenous laser
therapy proved to be the most effective in atherosclerotic involvement of the
vessels, with positive results achieved in 77.5 percent of patients. The length of
remission was up to six months.11

• After receiving a course of low-intensity infrared laser radiation treatment,

patients displayed positive changes in blood lipid spectrum, which was associated
with improvement in microcirculation, decrease in afterload, and increase in
economization of heart functioning and activity tolerance. Results demonstrate
that the hypolipidemic effect of laser radiation is a substantial factor in the
regression of CHD manifestations.12
To view the researchers' comments, taken from online abstracts, in their entirety, visit
www.healinglightseminars.com. Click on "Laser Research Library" and then scroll
through the following categories: Angina – Ischemic Heart Disease, Arteriosclerosis –
Atherosclerosis, Blood Irradiation, Hyperlipidemia, Hypertension, Myocardial Infarction,
Myocardial Protective Effect and Myocarditis.
Commentary
If only a small fraction of the positive health benefits reported in the literature coming out
of Eastern Europe is true, then ignoring the evidence in this area is a significant lapse of
Western science. Whether or not these studies have been performed to acceptable
standards, their sheer quantity, the scope of clinical applications and potential health
benefits for all of us mandate a thorough investigation.
Although there are more than 100 Eastern European studies on laser blood irradiation, to
my knowledge not one has been published in a Western, peer-reviewed journal. This is an
astonishing oversight in light of the evidence, but one that can and will be corrected,
sooner or later.
Laser therapy is being administered by many different methods, such as laserpuncture,
transcutaneous, supravascular and intravenous irradiation of blood over the projection
zones of organs, etc. Success has been reported with all of these treatment methods. In
my view, a laser of the appropriate wavelength and power, in knowledgeable hands, is
likely to be clinically relevant in almost any area or form of medicine.
It is also my belief that people generally continue to do things because they work. Those
of us who practice Oriental medicine are especially likely to appreciate this fact. And
new things also come along. Lasers are a big new thing. The eastern Europeans appear to
be very happy with the results they are reporting; the numbers of abstracts becoming
available seem to me to be accelerating.

Innovations may appear more rapidly than the political and social structures to manage
them. Yet when something is truly of value, sooner or later it always becomes available.
If you are interested in learning more about laser therapy, you are invited to attend the 7th
Annual Conference of the North American Association for Laser Therapy (NAALT),
which will be held May 18-20, 2007, in Tucson, Ariz. NAALT 2007 will focus on
clinical applications, photobiological mechanisms, treatment parameters, techniques,
basic laser physics, regulatory and reimbursement issues, as well as the latest technology.
An international roster of speakers will be taking part, including keynote speaker Jan
Bjordal. (A synopsis of Dr. Bjordal's work can be found at
www.uib.no/isf/people/janmb.htm.) To register online or to learn more about NAALT,
visit www.naalt.org.
References
1. Rosamond W, et al. Heart disease and stroke statistics 2007 update. A report from
the American Heart Association Statistics Committee and Stroke Statistics
Subcommittee. Circulation 2006; DOI: 10.1161/ circulationaha.106.179918.

2. Kniazeva TA, Badtieva VA, Zubkova SM. The laser therapy of patients with
hypertension in combination with coronary insufficiency. Vopr Kurortol Fizioter
Lech Fiz Kult, 1996 Mar-Apr;(2):3-5.
3. Velizhanina IA, Gapon LI, Shabalina MS, Kamalova NN. Efficiency of low-
intensity laser radiation in essential hypertension. Klin Med (Mosk),
2001;79(1):41-44.

4. Shuvalova IN, Klimenko IT, Shukova LP, Oborin IuI. The effect of low-intensity
laser radiation in the infrared and red ranges on arterial pressure regulation in
patients with borderline hypertension. Lik Sprava, 1998 Oct-Nov; (7):141-3.
5. Leont'eva NV, Evdokimova TA, Sedletskaia EIu, Dmitrieva IaV, Zolotnitskaia
VP. Supravascular laser exposure in combined modality treatment of patients with
arteriosclerosis obliterans of blood vessels of lower extremities. Vopr Kurortol
Fizioter Lech Fiz Kult, 2001 May-Jun.
6. Odud AM, Potapenko PI. The effectiveness of laser puncture in hypertension
patients. Vrach Delo, 1990 Jun;(6):19-21.
7. Evaluation of quantum therapy for the treatment of stable angina. Likars'ka
sprava, 2001;(5-6):111-114.
8. Simonenko VB, Siuch NI, Vokuev IA. Diagnostic implications of changed red
cell count in low-intensity laser radiation of blood in elderly patients with
coronary heart disease. Klin Med (Mosk), 2002;80(4):31-3.
9. Kovalyova TV, et al. Dynamics of lipid metabolism and peripheral blood flow
rates in patients with atherosclerosis in conjunction with renal dysfunction after
the course of combined laser therapy. Selected abstract from Laser & Health,
Dec. 8-10, 1999, Moscow.
10. Khutchumova KG, Lyusov VA. "The Deviation of Some Hemorheological
Infrared Laser Therapy." Moscow State University, Russia.
11. Shval'b PG, Zakharchenko AIa, Sigaev AA, Kataev MI. Intravenous laser
irradiation of the blood in occlusive vascular diseases of the extremities. Sov Med,
1990;(3):21-3.
12. Vasil'ev AP, Sekisova MA, Strel'tsova NN, Senatorov IuN. Laser correction of
microcirculation disorders in patients having CHD with hypercholesterinemia.
Klin Med (Mosk), 2005;83(2):33-7.