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.

In several studies, chelation has shown no benefit for heart disease. However, chelation has known side effects, such as excessively low calcium levels, low blood pressure, and permanent kidney damage. Since chelation is not covered by most insurance plans, it is also expensive: Each treatment typically costs $75–$125, repeated up to dozens of times over several months. Currently, the American Heart Association recommends against chelation therapy for treating heart problems.

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