Scientists have discovered a sign of future heart attack and stroke
Scientists have discovered a sign leading to myocardial infarction and stroke in the future. It turned out to be the accumulation of calcium in the abdominal aorta. The results of the research of specialists are published in the Journal of the American Heart Association.
Experts looked at 52 studies in the relevant field and found that patients with abdominal aortic calcification were two to four times more likely to have cardiovascular disease. The more calcium is found, the greater the likelihood of serious complications, the scientists concluded.
“The abdominal aorta is one of the first places where calcium can accumulate in the arteries, even earlier than in the heart,” said Josh Lewis, associate professor at the ECU School of Medicine and Health Sciences, study leader. It is noted that malnutrition, a sedentary lifestyle, smoking and a genetic predisposition lead to calcification. Thanks to the study, the scientist notes, doctors will be able to adjust the lifestyle of patients to prevent heart attacks and strokes.
Calcium builds up in blood vessels and blocks blood supply or causes plaque to rupture. This becomes this of the most common causes of these diseases. However, calcification of the abdominal aorta is usually discovered incidentally on scanning of the lateral spine.
