Why asthma increases the risk of heart attack and stroke – Heilpraxis

Persistent asthma damages the cardiovascular system

Persistent asthma in adulthood appears reinforced by plate deposit in the carotid arteries increase the risk of heart attacks and strokes.

In a new study involving experts from University of Washington was examined whether persistent asthma with deposition of plaques in the carotid artery (carotid arteries). The results are in the “Journal of the American Heart Association“published.

Data from the MESA study was assessed

The team used data from Multi-ethnic study of atherosclerosis (MESA), which included nearly 7,000 participants who started the course no heart disease had.

In this study, the researchers used data from 5,029 attendees evaluated, aged on average 61 years and at the beginning Cardiovascular disease risk factors have been found. Carotid artery ultrasound data were also available for all participants and 53% were female.

The participants were divided into three different categories: those with persistent asthma, intermittent asthma and those without asthma. 109 attendees belonged to the subgroup with persistent asthma, 388 attendees in the subgroup with intermittent asthma and the other participants had no asthma.

Plaques measured in the carotid artery

At the start of the MESA study, ultrasounds left and right carotid arteries to identify plaques in the carotid artery. The researchers explain that, based on the number of plaques in the walls of the two carotid arteries, a total load value was calculated.

Additionally, blood levels of inflammatory biomarkers have also been identified interleukin-6 (IL-6) and C reactive protein (CRP), add the researchers.

Widespread carotid artery deposits

Data analysis showed that 67 percent of participants with persistent asthma had plaques in the carotid artery, while this was the case only for 49.5% people with intermittent asthma and for 50.5% participants without asthma.

Additionally, people with persistent asthma who had deposits in the carotid artery had an average of two plaques, while the other groups had an average of only one plaque.

Doubled risk in persistent asthma

Once the data was adjusted for possible influencing factors such as age, sex, weight, prescription drug use or smoking, participants were included. persistent asthma compared to people without asthma, almost twice as high Likelihood of plaques in their carotid arteries, according to the research team.

Additionally, participants with persistent asthma reported higher values inflammatory biomarkers on. “Participants with persistent asthma had high levels of inflammation in the blood even though their asthma was being treated with medication, highlighting the inflammatory characteristics of asthma‘ explains the author of the study Matthew C. Tattersall in a Press release the American Heart Association.

“This analysis tells us that the increased risk of carotid plaques in people with persistent asthma is likely influenced by several factors.“, like that tattersall. Higher levels of inflammation are also known to lead to negative effects on the cardiovascular system.

A chronic inflammation contribute to the formation of plaques in the arteries which can break off and cause a heart attack or stroke.

“Many doctors and patients are unaware that airway inflammation in asthma can affect the arteries“, highlighted tattersall. In more severe forms of asthma, treatment of cardiovascular risk factors by adjusting lifestyle and diet therefore make a special contribution to prevention. (as)