A new study indicates that acute respiratory infections make a person vulnerable to myocardial infarction, according to an online edition for girls and women aged 14 to 35 Pannochka. net Australian scientists recommend that elderly and middle-aged people with colds and bronchitis monitor the state of the cardiovascular system and not expose it to unnecessary stress.

Every year, millions of people become victims of a heart attack. Even in the United States, where patients with heart attacks tend to be highly effective and timely, one in eight patients die.

The results of the latest work, published by the journal Internal Medicine Journal, shock with their numbers. In general, acute respiratory infections increase the risk of myocardial infarction by more than 17 times (without taking into account the age of the patient and the type of infection).

The study involved 578 patients in the Australian clinic who were hospitalized with myocardial infarction. The authors were interested in the preceding hospitalization of any respiratory infections, including influenza, ARVI, bronchitis and pneumonia, rhinitis and sinusitis.

The infarction was confirmed by coronary angiography.

The risk of heart attack increases 17 times in the first week after the disease.

The findings were disappointing: in general, 17% of patients with a heart attack had signs of respiratory infection less than a week before admission.

About 21% of patients suffered such infections no more than a month before the infarction.

Comparing these figures with the general population, scientists calculated that respiratory infections increase the risk of heart attack by 17 times.

Even if you take into account only light infections, the result is impressive - 13 times!.

"Although upper respiratory tract infections are much more easily tolerated than pneumonia or bronchitis, they occur many times more often. Understanding the connection between a common cold and a heart attack would help doctors prevent the irreparable, "says research co-author Lorcan Ruane,.

According to Professor Thomas Buckley (Thomas Buckley), the study fully explains why in Australia the peak of heart attacks occurs during the winter period. At this time, local clinics are overflowing with sneezing and coughing patients, each of which can become the next victim of a heart attack.

"A possible explanation for this unexpected connection is an inflammatory process and an increased tendency to form blood clots, as well as the effects of bacterial toxins on the coronary arteries," suggest the authors.

The main conclusion of the study: during the cold, bronchitis or pneumonia, and also at least during the next month closely monitor the heart.

Do not ignore the likely symptoms of a heart attack, and if possible, use preventive measures (such as cardiac aspirin).

medbe. en.