A new study, the largest of its kind, has found that chronic stress caused by daily life may cause permanent structural changes in the heart and increase the risk of heart attacks and strokes.
اضافة اعلان
The study, led by researchers from the MRC Laboratory of Medical Sciences and Imperial College London, involved nearly 480,000 adults in the United Kingdom.
The researchers found that chronic inflammation, linked to socioeconomic status and lifestyle, is the main driver of these changes. They used a blood marker known as "glycoprotein acetylation" (GlycA), alongside cardiac imaging and genetic data.
According to the research paper published in the European Journal of Preventive Cardiology, people with the highest levels of inflammation (top 20%) were 43% more likely to suffer a heart attack or stroke compared to those with the lowest levels (bottom 20%). Their hearts also showed clear structural changes, including thickened heart walls, smaller heart chambers, and weakened heart filling, changes that can develop silently over years before leading to heart failure. Higher inflammation levels were strongly linked to poverty and psychological distress, in addition to smoking and obesity.
Professor Declan O'Regan of Imperial College London says: "Millions of people may be living with hidden inflammation that is slowly changing their hearts and causing long-term damage. Chronic inflammation is complex, but it's linked to our surroundings, our economic situation, our family's health, and our lifestyle.
And there are things we can do about inflammation, such as reducing smoking and obesity."
He added: "What was surprising was how strongly social factors and mental health were linked to inflammation and heart damage, alongside a strong genetic factor, with some people naturally more resilient or more vulnerable."
The study identified key inflammatory proteins from the "interleukin-1" and "tumor necrosis factor" families as potential drivers of this damage, several of which are already being targeted by drugs in clinical trials, raising hopes that anti-inflammatory treatments could help prevent heart disease before symptoms appear.
The findings suggest that combining blood tests for inflammation with genetic risk scores could help identify the people who would benefit most from early intervention.
The researchers stressed that those genetically predisposed or exposed to adverse conditions are not condemned to heart disease, and that much can be done to prevent long-term inflammation.
Professor Bryan Williams of the British Heart Foundation said: "Inflammation is part of the body's healing process, but it has a dark side. This study underscores the importance of addressing the causes of inflammation and poor heart health, while supporting people in making lifestyle changes that protect their hearts."
Resource: Al-Ghad.
