What We Can Learn from Florence Henderson's Death

Beloved TV icon mom Florence Henderson passed away unexpectedly on America’s Thanksgiving holiday on November 24, 2016.

Only three days before her death she enthusiastically cheered her “Brady Bunch” daughter, Maureen McCormick, as she competed in another iconic TV show, “Dancing With The Stars (DWTS).” As a member of the studio audience for the DWTS season finale, Florence–at today’s relatively young age of 82– appeared to be healthy, sporting an ivory turtleneck and flashing her famous smile to the cameras. Six years earlier, at the age of 76, Florence herself competed in Season 10 of DWTS.

Florence Henderson’s untimely death prompted me to write this article in her honor. She died of heart failure, a condition that can be detected prior to the blockage of coronary arteries. My hope is that the information in this post may help you and your loved ones detect heart failure well before it happens.

Staggering Death Statistics

Although I neither had the pleasure of meeting Florence Henderson nor am privy to her medical history, I wonder–through tears– if her death could have been prevented?

Cardiovascular disease (CVD), including heart failure, is the leading global cause of death, according to the American Heart Association. CVD accounts for more than 17.3 million deaths worldwide. And about one of every three deaths in the United States is attributable to CVD. Unfortunately, the CVD death rate is expected to grow significantly–to over 23.6 million–by the year 2030.

An Easy and Potentially Life-Saving Test

A little-known, non-invasive screening test may prevent some heart disease by alerting patients about their risk of a heart attack well before it happens. This test is called CT cardiac calcium scoring test that measures calcified plaque in the coronary arteries. But here’s the catch: many doctors never mention the test to patients, and most health insurance policies do not cover the test’s cost–usually $150 or less!

Fortunately, my cardiologist recommended the CT cardiac calcium scoring test to me, a patient in her early sixties with familial history of heart disease. He told me that my health insurance probably will not cover the cost, and, at least in my home state of Nevada, I could order the test myself. Considering the exorbinant costs of the usual battery of nuclear stress tests ordered by cardiologists, the test fee of $150 was a relative bargain. Moreover, taking the test was a breeze!

The test, conducted in a CT scan machine, was super easy and only took ten minutes or so. Within a week, I learned that my CT cardiac calcium score was “zero,” a remarkable result for a sexagenarian. I rest assured that there is almost no likelihood of experiencing a heart attack in the next five years!

I have little calcium in my coronary arteries because I take vitamin K2 with my daily 10,000 IU of vitamin D3. Most Western diets do not include food rich in vitamin D3 and K2. For that reason, it usually requires daily supplementation to enjoy Vitamin D Wellness that includes less calcium in your coronary arteries.

Avoid Heart Failure

To assess the risk of a heart attack, consider a CT cardiac calcium scoring test. In addition, ensure you are enjoying Vitamin D Wellness that may minimize the risk of heart failure.

Author’s Note: Find out more about vitamins D3 and K2 by joining the “Vitamin D Wellness” group on Facebook. Read the award-winning book Defend Your Life to discover how you can “Defend Your Life” against a vast array of medical conditions including CVD.

Medical Disclaimer: All material on this website is provided for your information only and may not be construed as, nor should it be a substitute for, professional medical advice. The author of this article is not a medical practitioner. Please see Terms and Conditions.