The Clot Thickens

The Enduring Mystery of Heart Disease

By: Dr Malcolm Kendrick

Narrated by: Matthew Lloyd Davies

Length: 11 hrs and 46 mins

Publisher's summary

This is a 150-year detective story with a cast of unrecognized heroes who may, finally, become known for their work on the true causes of heart disease. Exploring the truth about cholesterol—the apparently tried, and convicted, cause of millions of deaths from heart disease—with billions spent each year on lowering cholesterol with diet and drugs.

Is it possible that our villain was simply left holding the gun whilst the true culprits ran and hid? Have they escaped our clutches?

Dr. Kendrick also introduces us to a range of other lesser known characters in this tale of selective reporting, data manipulation, and intrigue. The true story of heart disease is out there, and the evidence has been brought together here—a scientific mystery for our time that is ready to unfold.

©2021 Dr Malcolm Kendrick (P)2022 Tantor

Long, but great details

Helps us see cholesterol for what it actually does, and sheds light on less-mentioned causes of heart attack and stroke.

Pulling back the veil of medical science

A gift of health you can give yourself without a co- payment.
Truly an eye-opener.q

Enjoyable way to learn biochemistry!

Light-hearted humor surrounded by facts and facts and realistic hypotheses, rather than propaganda (translation rubbish).

Perfect: deeply informative and enjoyable

Open my eyes about what needs to be done. It’s in line with our current path: fasting, low carbs, high intensity exercise and great nutrition but it has helped us refine and enhance our program. Highly recommended.

Shots Fired!

An anabashed, snarky review of the theory that cholesterol (LDL) causes heart disease. Sign me up.

Great info. Enjoyable presentation.

I never imagined that I would enjoy a book about cardiovascular disease, but this was a pleasurable read with incredible information. I highly recommend this to anyone who is suffering from heart disease or anyone who knows someone suffering from heart disease (basically everyone).

Excelent!

Beautifully done! I've already listened to it at least four times, adding more notes each time. The humor and charm of the author make this subject feel like common conversation. Give us more!

5 stars based upon just the Introduction!

Were I to be wealthy, I would provide a copy of this book to every cardiologist by whom I have been counseled during the past 11 years... and there have been many.

Each has insisted that I absolutely must take statin drugs. I usually ask, "Why would I want to prevent my perfectly capable liver from doing what it's supposed to do?"

The responses varied from insulting my layman's intelligence to pitching a fit that I would dare to question their authority.

"Eat a plant-based diet... eliminate red meat and animal fats... stop eating eggs, butter, yogurt, cheese... eat more grains..." on and on and on. "And, if you refuse to take a statin drug to lower your cholesterol levels, you'll run the risk of cardiovascular disease and could suffer heart attacks and strokes..." and on and on and on.

i relented, followed such a diet and for a while even took statins.

I had a heart attack. BUT, my cholesterol levels were within an acceptable range.

This book sheds light and reveals the state of befucklement cardiologists who cling to erroneous hypotheses keep me in.

Seriously the best book I read in 2022!

Every six months or so the dork that I am totally forgets that fasting and low carb causes electrolyte issues -- PVCs, higher pulse rate, etc. -- if you're not getting enough salt. That was happening to me around the Thanksgiving holiday while I was reading Dr. Kendrick's new book. It literally is a Monty Python skit that explains the thrombogenic theory of coronary heart disease. The dude needs to do stand-up. Seriously, this book is fantastic! It shreds the cholesterol hypothesis. You cannot read this book and think about food, sugar, carbs, fat, nor salt the same way again. Yes, the same BS about Covid-19 and the pharmaceutical industry has been going on for decades with statins and cholesterol.

However, to circle back to my issue with fasting and electrolytes, I have been trying to investigate a statement that I read during my Covid-19 research in 2021: “It should be noted that any intervention may need to be timed correctly given that REN levels rise on a diurnal cycle, peaking at 4AM which corresponds with the commonly reported worsening of COVID-19 symptoms at night …”

Why is that so important to me specifically? Because what I have associated with food/ingredient sensitivities just so happens to impact me the worst at 4AM when it does happen -- waking up having to urinate followed by a rapid heart rate -- sometimes tachycardia. Since I read this, I've been trying to find a tie to what the hell goes on at 4AM with REN (renin) levels and why. Yes, I attempted to search the internet and came up with zilch. My medical provider at the time was not helpful. He basically said that doesn't apply to you because you don't have blood pressure issues.

So, to make a long-story short, I'm reading "The Clot Thickens" and Dr. Kendrick hands me the holy f'n grail. He starts talking about the RAAS (Renin-Angiotensin-Aldosterone System) and how it plays a part in cardio-vascular disease. The kidneys regulate the electrolyte system and reduced sodium intake causes vasoconstriction via the endothelium which stimulates the pituitary gland and in turn sympathetic nervous system to basically put your body in "fight or flight" stress response! (Perpetual stress that can damage your endothelium and create clots.) A 40 - 100 millimoles reduction in 24 hours creates an aldosterone and renin response from the kidneys! Basically low salt in plasma increases the renin level 3.6-fold (P<.001), and the aldosterone level increases 3.2-fold (P<.001). Yes, low sodium actually causes increased noradrenaline, cholesterol, and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels!!

As the human guinea pig that I am, I increased my salt intake to see if this would work on me. For someone who has never added salt to anything, this was quite the challenge for me. The denigration of sodium is a medical shibboleth that kind of approaches the realm of Moses destroying the 10 Commandments in Exodus 32:19. We’re talking a few grains here and there of Celtic Sea Salt in my water or when I cook. Holy crap on a stick! Within hours my diastolic pressure drops from 78 to 71 and my pulse pretty much does the same thing. Un-freaking-believable.

“The Clot Thickens” is so detailed (and footnoted with fantastic research) about what happens to your body when, and so well written, that I can find the answer to a question your normal "educated" medical "professionals" suckling at the big-pharma teet had no idea how to answer for an issue that's been causing problems for me, at least in part, for probably close to 15 years.

You won’t take the cholesterol hypothesis seriously again. This book is seriously a must read! Not only will you laugh out loud, but you'll be healthier and live longer.

An atypical yet convincing perspective on heart disease

Malcomb’s writing style and subject knowledge had my attention through to the very end! I highly recommend the book.