PROCEEDINGS ARTICLE | February 23, 2009
Proc. SPIE. 7161, Photonic Therapeutics and Diagnostics V
KEYWORDS: Safety, Medicine, Laser therapeutics, Surgery, Blood, Heart, Arteries, Low-intensity laser therapy, Laser irradiation, Laser tissue interaction
Cardiovascular disease is the number one cause of death worldwide. It is broadly defined to include
anything which adversely affects the heart or blood vessels. One-third of Americans have one or more
forms of it. By one estimate, average human life expectancy would increase by seven years if it were
eliminated.
The mainstream medical model seeks mostly to "manage" cardiovascular disease with pharmaceuticals or
to surgically bypass or reopen blocked vessels via angioplasty. These methods have proven highly useful
and saved countless lives. Yet drug therapy may be costly and ongoing, and it carries the risk of side
effects while often doing little or nothing to improve underlying health concerns. Similarly, angioplasty or
surgery are invasive methods which entail risk.
Laser therapy<sup>1</sup> regenerates tissue, stimulates biological function, reduces inflammation and alleviates pain.
Its efficacy and safety have been increasingly well documented in cardiovascular disease of many kinds. In
this article we will explore the effects of laser therapy in angina, atherosclerosis, coronary artery disease,
hypertension, hyperlipidemia, myocardial infarction, stroke and other conditions. The clinical application
of various methods of laser therapy, including laserpuncture and transcutaneous, supravascular and
intravenous irradiation of blood will be discussed. Implementing laser therapy in the treatment of
cardiovascular disease offers the possibility of increasing the health and wellbeing of patients while
reducing the costs and enhancing safety of medical care.
