cardiac HEALTH ON TIME FALL 2015
Inflammation: The Heart of The Matter INFLAMMATION OF THE ARTERIES MAY INDICATE FUTURE HEART ATTACKS AND STROKES
RECENT EVIDENCE SUGGESTS that inflammation of the arteries may be an important indicator of future heart attacks and strokes. Researchers have found that blood levels of a protein called C-reactive protein (CRP), which indicate underlying degrees of inflammation, are found to be elevated many years before a first heart attack or stroke. According to several studies, the one-third of subjects with the highest levels of C-reactive protein had twice the risk for coronary heart disease and stroke as the bottom one-third with the lowest levels of the protein. Inflammation occurs when the body responds to injury. What causes inflammation of the arteries is not known, but infection — possibly caused by bacteria or a virus — might contribute to or even start the narrowing process. Other possible factors that can cause an inflammatory response in the body are: • smoking • high blood pressure • diabetes • high cholesterol levels These risk factors may cause inflammation of the coronary and carotid arteries, which may lead to a narrowing of these vessels. This may, in turn, increase your risk for coronary heart disease and stroke. The process that triggers the body’s inflammatory response needs to be investigated in large randomized clinical trials. There are research projects under way at the moment to help explain what triggers the body’s inflammatory response to each risk factor for coronary heart disease and how the body responds to damage and stress of blood vessels. There is strong evidence that CRP should be routinely considered along with standard cholesterol evaluation for those at immediate risk — for example, someone considered to have a 10 to 20 percent risk for heart attack in the next 10 years based on his or her health status. For the rest of us, the American Heart Association does not recommend CRP testing — just regular cholesterol testing and blood pressure screening.
THE INFLAMMATORY THEORY Inflammation is part of the body’s response to infection, but new research suggests it also may cause heart disease when the immune system mistakes certain fats for germs and attacks them. LDLs — molecules carrying cholesterol — accumulate in the artery, change chemically and attach to artery wall. Immune system is alerted and sends white blood cells, which normally ingest germs and send out chemicals to kill them. White blood cells swallow LDLs, turn into foam cells filled with fatty LDL droplets and form plaques on artery walls. Foam cells fatten and release free radicals, creating more LDLs; immune system sends more white blood cells. Ongoing inflammation can make plaque rupture and release debris that can form a blood clot blocking the artery and causing a heart attack.
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Coronary artery New LDLs
White blood cell
Plaque
Foam cell
New LDLs
Rupture
Source: Scientific American
Coronary Calcium Scan This easy, 15-minute test is up to 10 times more accurate at predicting your heart attack risk than traditional diagnostic methods. To schedule, call 706-721-2426 or visit grhealth.org/cardio.
GRHealth partners with American Heart Association on Life is Why campaign GRHealth is the first-ever sponsor of the American Heart Association’s (AHA) Life is Why campaign in the CSRA, one of only a few partnerships of its kind in the nation. As the area’s only academic medical center, GRHealth offers comprehensive primary, specialty and subspecialty care for patients and has demonstrated its commitment to its employees’ wellness. With this groundbreaking new partnership,
GRHealth is expanding its efforts to improve heart and finance and chief business officer at GRHealth health in the CSRA region, as well. and Georgia Regents University. “The American In collaboration with the AHA, GRHealth will Heart Association has been a major supporter of our use this marketwide sponsorship, which supports cardiovascular research, which translates to providing research funding and all AHA campaigns and better patient care. We’re excited to continue to activities in the region, to help with advancing the reinvest that in the heart health of our employees, mission of the AHA — to build healthier lives free students and community.” (Learn more about the of cardiovascular diseases and stroke. GRHealth is work of the American Heart Association on page 4.) planning mission-focused events throughout the year to TM help educate the entire CSRA community about heart disease and stroke prevention. Life is Why is a new national campaign that emphasizes the “We’re honored to partner emotional connection to the work of the American Heart with the American Heart Association (AHA). The campaign encourages people of all Association in this expanded ages, ethnicities and backgrounds to consider what or who capacity this year,” said they are living for and turn that into their personal motivation Anthony E. Wagner, executive for making small changes in their lifestyles, adding up to vice president of administration healthier, happier and longer lives with the ones they love.
ABOUT LIFE IS WHY
For more information on Life is Why or to share your “why,” visit heart.org/lifeiswhy. GRU-018
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