Medicise South Africa

16/06/2025

Nature’s Clue to a Stronger Heart

From the spiral of a sunflower to the swirl of galaxies, nature speaks one language: the spiral.

Did you know your heart follows the same pattern?

A healthy heart twists like a spiral—a motion that powers strong contractions and efficient blood flow. But in heart failure, this spiral collapses, and the heart dilates like a round balloon… losing its natural power.

Exercise isn’t just about movement—it’s about restoring that spiral.

By training at the right intensity—based on oxygen kinetics and stroke volume—we can guide the heart back to its natural helical function.

This is the science behind restoring heart function.

We use real cardiopulmonary data to prescribe exercise that helps your heart remember what nature always knew.

Most people visiting our lab unknowingly exercise too hard, which can lead to overuse of heart muscle. Our primary message to our patients are to stay active, but not to over exert themselves, to ensure the heart is able to contract optimally during exercise.

Are you training at the appropriate exercise intensity to ensure your heart is able to pump out maximal amount of oxygenated blood?

To determine the accurate exercise intensity for your heart visit our website www.medicisesa.co.za

15/06/2025

Dr. Gerald Buckberg presented a thought provoking lecture about the heart.

The Helical Heart: Nature’s Perfect Spiral

Did you know your heart is not just a pump—but a spiral powerhouse?

The helical heart is structured like a twisted ribbon, wrapping around itself in a precise spiral. This design stores elastic energy with every heartbeat—like winding a spring—and then releases it for a powerful twisting contraction that ejects blood with maximum efficiency.

But when mitochondrial dysfunction or disease disrupts this spiral motion, the heart loses its strength and rhythm. That’s where targeted exercise and metabolic rehab come in—by restoring mitochondrial health, we can help the heart recover its spiral twist and reclaim its natural flow.

The spiral is more than a shape—it’s a symbol of life, energy, and healing.

Dr. Gerald D. Buckberg is a Professor of Surgery, Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery, at the UCLA Medical Center. He received his Cardiothoracic training at ...

04/05/2025

Most people think they’re burning fat when they exercise.
But most are burning sugar by minute 3.
This isn’t fitness.
It’s a warning sign.
Early carb reliance = metabolic dysfunction.
If your body shifts to carbs too early, it means:
• Your mitochondria are broken
• You can’t use fat for energy
• You crash harder, recover slower
And you’re on the path to insulin resistance, fatigue & burnout.

Trainers say “no pain, no gain.”
But if you don’t know where your Fat Max or VT1 is, you’re training blind.
You’re likely overexerting—and making your health worse.

The fix? Test, don’t guess.
A CPET (cardiopulmonary exercise test) shows:
• When you shift to carbs
• If your cells can use oxygen
• How to train without damaging your metabolism

Your treadmill won’t tell you this.
Your smartwatch won’t.
Only CPET will.
Want to actually burn fat, protect your heart, and build real energy?

Know your zones. Train smart.

www.medicisesa.co.za

29/04/2025

⛔️Abnormal Fatigue is Rising⛔️

What is going on?

Are you also feeling tired all the time? Unusual fatigue is currently the number one symptom most individuals complain about. Strangely their resting and structural evaluations are showing up normal.

Society is getting frustrated.

Our data is consistently showing that underlying metabolic damage during exercise - the cells cannot burn fat anymore - is the one constant problem most individuals have in common.

Most individuals also complain that they are struggling to lose weight even though they are following strict diets, exercising, BUT the majority struggle to enjoy a good night’s sleep. They wake up feeling tired and miserable, and can only get started if they have some coffee in the morning.

The Solution: identify the true fat burning state during exercise through a formal cardiopulmonary exercise test.

Fat burning during exercise occurs during low intensity not high intensity cardiovascular exercise. Exercise in the fat burning zone leads to improved quality of sleep, improving general energy levels.

Start walking every second day at your own pace where you can hold a conversation.

For more info go to our website www.medicisesa.co.za

14/03/2025

5 months later and the data consistently show new evolving problems during exercise:

📌Rapid decrease in fat oxidation rates
📌 Significant increase in aerobic glycolysis

The metabolic problem is ongoing and evolving. Take note, trouble is lurking.

13/03/2025

Fat oxidation rates are rapidly declining.

Evidence stacking up. Earlier reliance on carbohydrates during exercise starting to show more and more. Data suggests to expect an increase in risk profiles for mortality rates due to mitochondrial dysfunction specifically during exercise endurance events with extreme exertion.

12/12/2024

Our concern of the early metabolic shift observed during deep analysis of Cardiopulmonary Exercise Testing data in the majority of individuals has complex ramifications for:

(a) Healthcare
(b) Health Insurance
(c) Life Insurance
(d) Financial services

Elevated D-lactate as well as aerobic glycolysis are now consistently observed in young and old. The focus for this series of posts shift towards cancer.

UNDERSTANDING THE ROLE OF D-LACTATE IN CANCER DEVELOPMENT

Cancer is a complex disease influenced by both genetic mutations and metabolic reprogramming. Among these, metabolic shifts such as the Warburg effect are critical drivers of tumor growth and progression. Elevated D-lactate levels, a lesser discussed metabolic byproduct, are intricately linked to cancer biology through abnormal metabolic pathways, tumor microenvironment alterations, oxidative stress, and immune modulation.

Key Interlinked Processes will be discussed. The fifth process:

5. Immune Modulation

📌 LACTATE’S ROLE IN IMMUNE INVASION

(a) D-lactate, like L-lactate, may surpress anti-tumor immunity by:

🔬 Impairing T-cell activation

🔬 Polarizing macrophages towards pro-tumor phenotypes

📌 IMMUNE SUPPRESSION IN CANCER

(a) A lactate-rich tumor environment prevents effective immune surveillance, allowing tumors evade destruction.

Impact on Cancer Development…

Immune modulation caused by elevated lactate levels weakens the body’s natural anti-cancer defenses.

12/12/2024

Our concern of the early metabolic shift observed during deep analysis of Cardiopulmonary Exercise Testing data in the majority of individuals has complex ramifications for:

(a) Healthcare
(b) Health Insurance
(c) Life Insurance
(d) Financial services

Elevated D-lactate as well as aerobic glycolysis are now consistently observed in young and old. The focus for this series of posts shift towards cancer.

UNDERSTANDING THE ROLE OF D-LACTATE IN CANCER DEVELOPMENT

Cancer is a complex disease influenced by both genetic mutations and metabolic reprogramming. Among these, metabolic shifts such as the Warburg effect are critical drivers of tumor growth and progression. Elevated D-lactate levels, a lesser discussed metabolic byproduct, are intricately linked to cancer biology through abnormal metabolic pathways, tumor microenvironment alterations, oxidative stress, and immune modulation.

Key Interlinked Processes will be discussed. The fourth process:

4. Oxidative Stress

📌 ROLE OF REACTIVE OXYGEN SPECIES (ROS)

(a) D-lactate metabolism can indirectly contribute to ROS generation.

(b) High ROS levels lead to DNA damage and mutations, fueling genetic instability.

📌 DUAL ROLE IN CANCER

(a) ROS supports cancer cell signalling and metabolic adaptation but also promotes genomic instability.

Impact on Cancer Development…

Elevated ROS levels drive both genetic mutations and metabolic alterations, creating a feedback loop that accelerates cancer progression.

12/12/2024

Our concern of the early metabolic shift observed during deep analysis of Cardiopulmonary Exercise Testing data in the majority of individuals has complex ramifications for:

(a) Healthcare
(b) Health Insurance
(c) Life Insurance
(d) Financial services

Elevated D-lactate as well as aerobic glycolysis are now consistently observed in young and old. The focus for this series of posts shift towards cancer.

UNDERSTANDING THE ROLE OF D-LACTATE IN CANCER DEVELOPMENT

Cancer is a complex disease influenced by both genetic mutations and metabolic reprogramming. Among these, metabolic shifts such as the Warburg effect are critical drivers of tumor growth and progression. Elevated D-lactate levels, a lesser discussed metabolic byproduct, are intricately linked to cancer biology through abnormal metabolic pathways, tumor microenvironment alterations, oxidative stress, and immune modulation.

Key Interlinked Processes will be discussed. The third process:

3. Tumor Microenvironment and Acidosis

📌 EXTRACELLULAR ACIDIFICATION

(a) Both D- and L-lactate accumulate in the tumor microenvironment causing acidosis.

📌 CONSEQUENCES OF ACIDOSIS

(a) Promotes cancer cell invasion and metastasis.

(b) Impairs immune cell function, creating an immunosuppressive microenvironment.

(c) Enhances resistance to therapies, particularly those reliant on a neutral pH.

Impact on Cancer Development…

Acidification creates a hostile environment for normal cells but fosters survival and growth of cancer cells.

12/12/2024

Our concern of the early metabolic shift observed during deep analysis of Cardiopulmonary Exercise Testing data in the majority of individuals has complex ramifications for:

(a) Healthcare
(b) Health Insurance
(c) Life Insurance
(d) Financial services

Elevated D-lactate as well as aerobic glycolysis are now consistently observed in young and old. The focus for this series of posts shift towards cancer.

UNDERSTANDING THE ROLE OF D-LACTATE IN CANCER DEVELOPMENT

Cancer is a complex disease influenced by both genetic mutations and metabolic reprogramming. Among these, metabolic shifts such as the Warburg effect are critical drivers of tumor growth and progression. Elevated D-lactate levels, a lesser discussed metabolic byproduct, are intricately linked to cancer biology through abnormal metabolic pathways, tumor microenvironment alterations, oxidative stress, and immune modulation.

Key Interlinked Processes will be discussed. The second process:

2. Abnormal Metabolic Pathways

📌 METHYLGLYOXAL AND GLYOXALASE PATHWAY:

(a) Methylglyoxal is a toxic byproduct of glycolysis, which is detoxified by the glyoxalase system into D-lactate. Overactivation of glycolysis in cancer cells increases methylglyoxal, thereby elevating D-lactate levels.

📌 CANCER CELL ADAPTATION

These pathways allow cancer cells to sustain high glycolytic flux and maintain metabolic flexibility.

Impact on Cancer Development…

Abnormal metabolism contribute to tumorigenesis by driving oxidative stress, altering the tumor microenvironment, and disrupting normal cellular signalling.


♋

12/12/2024

Our concern of the early metabolic shift observed during deep analysis of Cardiopulmonary Exercise Testing data in the majority of individuals has complex ramifications for:

(a) Healthcare
(b) Health Insurance
(c) Life Insurance
(d) Financial services

Elevated D-lactate as well as aerobic glycolysis are now consistently observed in young and old. The focus for this post shift towards cancer.

UNDERSTANDING THE ROLE OF D-LACTATE IN CANCER DEVELOPMENT

Cancer is a complex disease influenced by both genetic mutations and metabolic reprogramming. Among these, metabolic shifts such as the Warburg effect are critical drivers of tumor growth and progression. Elevated D-lactate levels, a lesser discussed metabolic byproduct, are intricately linked to cancer biology through abnormal metabolic pathways, tumor microenvironment alterations, oxidative stress, and immune modulation.

Key Interlinked Processes will be discussed. The first process:

1. The Warburg effect and metabolic reprogramming.

📌 WARBURG EFFECT: Cancer cells prefer aerobic glycolysis, converting glucose to lactate, even in the presence of oxygen. This metabolic strategy supports rapid cell proliferation by providing ATP and biosynthetic precursors.

📌 D-LACTATE PRODUCTION: While glyocolysis primarily produces L-lactate, increased methylglyoxal (a glycolysis byproduct) in cancer cells contribute to D-lactate generation via the glyoxalase pathway.

Impact on Cancer Development:

Enhanced glycolysis and D-lactate production create a foundation for metabolic abnormalities that support tumor growth and progression.

12/12/2024

In light of our concern about elevated D-lactate levels during exercise, and the potential link with cardiac dysfunction…

We would like to emphasise the importance of regular physical activity within the available oxygen capacity - preventing D-lactate elevation. Increasing the ability the use more oxygen is a superior physiological variable that decrease the risk for all-cause mortality.

The benefits of regular exercise within this intensity far outweigh the risks. If you are experiencing

📌 chest pain
📌 shortness of breath
📌 unusual fatigue
📌 heart palpitations
📌 dizziness or syncope

it is advisable to book an appointment with a professional and schedule a cardiopulmonary exercise test, to

📌 identify the physiological cause of exercise intolerance
📌 identify the appropriate exercise intensity to provide a structural approach to your exercise regimen with the objective to increase oxygen consumption.

Keep moving forward! Increase VO2. Decrease risk of all-cause mortality.

Send an email to info@medicisesa.co.za if you have any queries.