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Why It's Important To Start Talking About Inflammation And Heart Disease
(BPT) - Did you know that cholesterol and inflammation are partners in causing heart attack and stroke? Inflammation is your body's internal fight against harmful conditions, but if it's on overtime, it can cause its own harm. If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with heart disease, you may want to talk to your doctor about the role of cardiovascular inflammation — and what you can do about it.
Because heart disease is the number one cause of death in the U.S.,[1] it's vital for those with risk factors for cardiovascular (CV) disease to learn how they may be able to help prevent a significant cardiac event like a heart attack or stroke from happening to them. A recent study demonstrated that among people already taking cholesterol-lowering statins, residual vascular inflammation strongly predicts future CV events — perhaps even more than high cholesterol.[2]
Data from many peer-reviewed publications confirm that patients at high risk who are already using statins may benefit from additional anti-inflammatory therapy to further reduce their risk of cardiac and stroke events. Until now, there have only been approved therapies to treat high cholesterol risk — which do not address remaining vascular inflammation. Reducing inflammation may be key to further lowering the risk of heart attack, which over 800,000 Americans with CV disease may face this year.[1]
Why inflammation is so crucial
Heart attacks are caused by blocked blood flow to the heart, while strokes are caused by blocked blood flow to the brain. Inflammation plays a critical role in atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD), a condition where arteries become narrowed and hardened due to buildup of a substance called plaque which can lead to reduced blood flow and blood clots, resulting in heart attacks and strokes.[3] Because of this, people with ASCVD are at high risk for acute cardiovascular events.[4] Inflammation is a partner with high cholesterol in forming plaque, which contributes to the development and progression of ASCVD.[5]
How to reduce CV inflammation
To find out whether inflammation is a risk for you, the first step is getting tested. A simple blood test to determine the level of high sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), which is a biomarker for inflammation, can be measured in your blood and gives you an idea of your risk of heart disease.
If this test finds that your hs-CRP level is higher than normal, the next step is to reduce it. One treatment option includes low-dose colchicine, 0.5 mg, a once-daily, single oral anti-inflammatory tablet shown to reduce the risk of a major event, including heart attack or stroke.
"Inflammation has been known to cause heart attacks and strokes for years, and low-dose colchicine, 0.5 mg is a major advance in treating people with cardiovascular inflammation," said Philip Nimoityn, M.D., FACC, clinical cardiologist at Cardiology Consultants of Philadelphia at Jefferson and attending physician at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital. "With the potential to save millions of lives, low-dose colchicine, 0.5 mg, is proven to reduce the risk of cardiac events, including heart attack and stroke, in patients with established cardiovascular disease by 31%."
If you've been diagnosed with ASCVD, or you have multiple risk factors for ASCVD, you may be suffering from untreated CV inflammation. To help reduce this damaging inflammation and lower your risk of a heart attack or stroke, ask your doctor about getting tested for hs-CRP, and about new anti-inflammatory treatment options such as low-dose colchicine, 0.5 mg.
Learn more about your risk and steps you can take to support your cardiac health at CVDInflammation.Com.
[1] Heart disease facts. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Published May 15, 2024. Accessed June 20, 2024. Https://www.Cdc.Gov/heart-disease/data-research/facts-stats/index.Html.
[2] Ridker PM, Bhatt DL, Pradhan AD, et al. Inflammation and cholesterol as predictors of cardiovascular events among patients receiving statin therapy: a collaborative analysis of three randomised trials. Lancet (London, England). 2023;401(10384):1293-1301. Doi:https://doi.Org/10.1016/S0140-6736(23)00215-5
[3] What is atherosclerosis? American Heart Association. Published April 3, 2023. Accessed June 20, 2024. Https://www.Heart.Org/en/health-topics/cholesterol/about-cholesterol/atherosclerosis.
[4] Trier van, Marjolein Snaterse, Hageman SHJ, et al. Unexploited potential of risk factor treatment in patients with atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease. Published online February 9, 2023. Doi:https://doi.Org/10.1093/eurjpc/zwad038
[5] Libby P, Ridker PM, Hansson GK. Progress and challenges in translating the biology of atherosclerosis. Nature. 2011;473(7347):317-25. Doi:https://doi.Org/10.1038/nature10146
Clogged Arteries: Top 7 Vitamins To Unclog And Clean Heart Arteries Naturally
Vitamins to keep your arteries clean Discover the top 7 vitamins that help keep your arteries clean and reduce the risk of clogged arteries. Improve your heart health with these essential nutrients.
Written by Ankit KumarUpdated : June 18, 2024 12:36 PM IST
Arteries are an essential part of your body that contributes to overall health and delivers oxygen-rich blood throughout your body. A tube-like structure that carries pure blood with oxygen to different parts of your body. However, atherosclerosis is a condition that can reduce the blood flow through your arteries.
The arteries can become clogged due to plaque buildup and there is no magic tool to fix it. Lifestyle changes can prevent further deposits and accumulation to improve heart health. In some cases, medical procedures or surgery may be required to clear the blockages. This article will insight into some of the vitamins that can help you unclog arteries for better blood flow through the body.
7 Vitamins to Keep Your Arteries CleanIt is crucial to keep your arteries clean to maintain healthy cardiovascular health. Here are 10 vitamins that can help you to maintain artery health to prevent plaque buildup.
1. Vitamin CA powerful antioxidant that helps to prevent oxidation of bad cholesterol, an important factor in plaque formation. Vitamin C also supports the production of collagen that are essential for maintaining healthy blood vessels.
2. Vitamin EVitamin E helps in prevention of oxidation of cholesterol that can contribute to plaque buildup. Promoting better blood circulation and preventing blood clots.
3. Vitamin DVitamin D, regulates blood pressure and reduces inflammation that contributes to atherosclerosis, a stage where arteries are clogged. Several studies suggest that adequate levels of vitamin D are associated with better cardiovascular health.
4. Vitamin K2Vitamin K2 helps direct calcium to the bones to prevent the blockage and maintain the flexibility of arteries. The vitamin is crucial for preventing calcium deposit in the arteries.
5. Vitamin B6Vitamin B6 lowers homocysteine level in the blood, helps the arteries from getting damaged lining and promotes plaque buildup. It is necessary to keep your homocysteine level lower to have healthier arteries.
6. Vitamin B12Similar to vitamin B6, Vitamin B12 also helps to reduce homocysteine levels. Adequate amount of vitamin B 12 may support cardiovascular health and reduce the risk of arterial damage.
7. Vitamin B3 (Niacin)Vitamin D3 also known as Niacin which helps in increasing good cholesterol levels by lowering bad cholesterol and triglycerides. Vitamin D3 also improves blood vessel function and reduces inflammation.
How are arteries different from veins? What else you should knowArteries carry oxygen rich blood from heart to body with strong muscular walls that are designed to withstand high blood pressure. Arteries rely on pressure to maintain one way blood flow without valves. Whereas veins return oxygen less blood to the heart after the body tissue extracts oxygen from them.
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Impact Of HF Comorbidity On Cardiovascular Function In COPD And Isolated HF During Hospitalization
The following is a summary of "Influence of heart failure (HF) comorbidity in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and isolated forms of HF and COPD on cardiovascular function during hospitalization," published in the July 2024 issue of Pulmonology by Schafauser et al.
The coexistence of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and heart failure (HF) exacerbates systemic inflammation, myocardial injury, and arterial stiffness, profoundly influencing cardiovascular risk and prognosis. This study aimed to evaluate the cardiovascular profile of patients hospitalized with exacerbations of COPD (ECOPD) in conjunction with HF compared to those with isolated diseases.
This cross-sectional study enrolled patients diagnosed with ECOPD and decompensated HF within 24 to 48 hours of hospital admission. Assessments included endothelial function measured by brachial artery flow-mediated vasodilation (FMD), hemodynamic analysis via pulse wave analysis, arterial stiffness assessed by carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity (cfPWV), and cardiac autonomic modulation (CAM) evaluated through heart rate variability (HRV).
The mean FMD was significantly impaired across all groups, indicating endothelial dysfunction: COPD (5.47%, 95% CI 3.96–6.91), COPD-HF (2.66%, 95% CI 0.09–3.48), and HF (4.60%, 95% CI 2.30–6.43) (p<0.01). Patients with COPD-HF exhibited worse FMD compared to isolated diseases. Arterial stiffness, reflected by augmentation index (AIx) and cfPWV, was also significantly higher in the COPD-HF group compared to isolated COPD or HF (p<0.01). Moreover, sympathetic nervous system activation, indicated by HRV parameters (PNS and SNS), was markedly increased in patients with COPD-HF compared to those with isolated diseases (p<0.01). Measures of CAM (rMSSD, NN50, pNN50, TINN) further underscored worse autonomic modulation in the COPD-HF group.
Hospitalized patients with COPD and HF experience more severe vascular dysfunction and impaired cardiac autonomic modulation compared to those with isolated diseases. These findings highlight the critical need for comprehensive cardiovascular assessment and tailored management strategies to address the compounded cardiovascular effects of COPD and HF comorbidity during hospitalization.
Source: sciencedirect.Com/science/article/abs/pii/S0954611124002063
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