Chronic stress is believed to be creating hidden inflammation in the hearts of million of people – changing the organ’s structure and causing long term damage.
A new study has found that this stress-induced inflammation is increasing heart attacks and strokes, and reducing life expectancy.
MRC Laboratory of Medical Sciences (LMS) and Imperial College London made the finding by reviewing the health of around 480,000 people.
They found that chronic inflammation associated with socioeconomic situations and lifestyles was linked to structural changes in the heart. These changes could appear years before a person experienced any cardiovascular symptoms.
Head of the Computational Cardiac Imaging Group at the LMS, Professor Declan O’Regan, said the study was the largest of its kind.
“Chronic inflammation is complicated, but we know it’s tied to our health and driven by a range of lifestyle and economic factors – meaning people may be at more risk just because of their surroundings, their economic status, their family’s health and their lifestyle,” he said.
“But while tackling health inequalities remains an issue, there are things that we can do about inflammation, including reducing risk factors like smoking and obesity.”
Chronic inflammation is a long-term low-level activation of the body’s immune system.
The researchers found that people with the highest levels of inflammation (the top 20 percent) had a 43 percent higher risk of heart attack and stroke than those with the lowest levels (the bottom 20 percent).
“But in addition, those with higher levels also showed more evidence of structural changes in their hearts, including thickened heart walls, smaller heart chambers and poorer heart filling – all changes which may develop quietly for years before progressing to heart failure,” the study report said.
“These findings reinforce the importance of tackling the causes of inflammation and poor cardiovascular health, while also supporting people to make lifestyle changes that can help protect their hearts.”
Link to full report is here
