Deficiency Of B12 is the reason for heart attacks?

Doctors Say Deficiency Of B12, A Vitamin Found Mostly In Fish & Meat, Noticed In Young Patients

Not even in his nightmares had 23-year-old Ramesh Tayde (name changed) thought that a person his age could have a heart problem. But while making a presentation in his new highpaying job, he developed chest pain. He tried to ignore it, but within minutes he blacked out. When his colleagues took him to a hospital, he was found to have suffered a heart attack.

“Most people kept wondering how I could have got an attack at this age. Even I was shocked as I do not smoke and I don’t have any of the other problems like hypertension, high cholestrol or diabetes, which are generally the cause of cardiac problems in people my age,’’ said Ramesh.

However, it turned out that since Ramesh is a pure vegetarian, he had a deficiency of vitamin B12, along with other vitamins, which caused his homocysteine levels to rise very high.

Anup Tare, another 23-yearold, was standing in a line for admission in a university, when he had an attack. It turned out that Anup not only had high stress levels, but also smoked occasionally.

In both cases however, the doctors noticed high levels of homocysteine and low levels of vitamin B12. “A deficiency of any one of vitamin B12, B6, or folic acid leads to high levels of homocysteine, an amino acid in the blood. Hyperhomocysteinemia, in turn, has been associated with heart problems amongst youngsters. Thus, we can say, that a deficiency of vitamin B12 in the body, may be one of the causes of increasing number of youngsters having heart problems,’’ said the foctor.

“Out of all the young cases of heart attack that we have seen, almost all of them had high levels of homocysteine, while 90% of youngsters turned out to be vitamin B12 deficient,’’ added the doctor.

While it means being a vegetarian may put you at greater risk of heart disease, non-vegetarians may have other causes for cardiac trouble. Moreover, not all agree that B12 deficiency is at fault.

Dr Ameya Udyavar, agrees with only a part of the theory. “No doubt that high levels of homocysteine are known to cause clotting in the blood, which leads to thrombosis of the heart. However, a deficiency in B12 together with folic acid (vitamin B9) is known to cause high levels of homocysteine. Deficiency in B12 alone causing hyperhomocystienemia has not been proved. Deficiency of another vitamin in the B catagory, thiamine (known as vitamin B1) causes ‘beri beri’ a condition in which the heart muscle beats slowly. Thus, it can be said that a deficiency of vitamins in the B category can cause heart problems,’’ he said.

Dr N O Bansal, however, differs completely. “People need not panic. Though high homocysteine levels were often believed to be a cause of heart probems, this theory itself has been questioned time and again. To say that B12 deficiency may be one of the causes leading to hyperhomocysteinemia will be stretching it too far,’’ he said.

HEART OF THE MATTER

Lower IQ raises risk of heart disease

A new study, conducted by researchers in the UK, has shown that having a lower than average IQ is in itself a risk factor for heart disease.

In the study of over 4,000 people, David Batty and his colleagues at the University of Glasgow and the University of Edinburgh found that IQ alone explained more than 20% of the difference in mortality between high and low socio-economic groups.

The researchers found that the results were the same even when known heart disease risk factors were taken into account. “We already know that socio-economically disadvantaged people have worse health and tend to die earlier from conditions such as heart disease, cancer and accidents,” BBC News quoted David Batty, who led the study for the Wellcome Trust and the Medical Research Council, a saying.

“Environmental exposures and health-related behaviours, such as smoking, diet and physical activity, can explain some of this difference, but not all of it,” he added. The research team studied a group of 4,289 former US soldiers from all walks of life. As expected from past trends, those on low incomes and with less education had a higher risk of dying from cardiovascular disease.

However, when the researchers took into account intelligence or cognitive function, commonly referred to as IQ, and controlled for nine other known heart disease risk factors, IQ alone explained 23% of the differences in mortality between the highest and lowest socio-economic groups in the study.

They offer several possible explanations for this - low IQ scores might simply be a marker of underlying poor health or intelligence might lead to greater knowledge about how to keep healthy. Batty said, whatever the explanation, the findings imply the IQ of the public should be considered more carefully when preparing health promotion campaigns.

The study has been published in the European Heart Journal.

HEART-0-MATIC

A machine that uses dead hearts to simulate working of a live one will allow researchers to conduct experiments at a fraction of the cost of using live animals.

A new machine that makes an animal heart pump much like a live heart after it has been removed from the animal’s body, is set to revolutionise heart surgery.

Developed at the USbased North Carolina State University, the machine saves researchers time and money by allowing them to test their technologies without the costs and time associated with animal or clinical trials.

Currently, most medical device prototypes designed for use in heart surgery are tested on live pigs. However, these tests are both expensive, time-consuming, and involve a lengthy process to ensure that the use of live animals is necessary.

The computer-controlled machine, allows researchers to film the interior workings of the pumping heart – enabling them to ascertain exactly which surgical techniques perform best for repairing heart valves.

The machine, dubbed the ‘dynamic heart system’ – pumps fluid through a pig heart so that it functions in a very realistic way.

“Researchers can obtain pig hearts from a pork processing facility and use the heart system to test their prototypes or practice new surgical procedures,” says Andrew Richards, a Ph. D. student in mechanical engineering at NC State who designed the heart machine.

The system is much cheaper than testing on a live animal, which costs approximately $2,500, said Richards. “It costs approximately $25 to run an experiment on the machine,” he added.

By using the machine, researchers can determine if concepts for new surgical tools are viable before evaluating them on live animals. They can also identify and address any functional problems with new tools.

“There will still be a need for testing in live animal models,” says Dr. Greg Buckner, who directed the project, “but this system allows researchers to do ‘proof of concept’ evaluations, and refine the designs, before operating on live animals.”

The US National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute funded the development of the heart machine system.

Is your heart ready to take flight?

Let your heart not skip a beat. If you are a heart patient, follow these instructions before boarding a flight.

Most people with a stable heart disease that is monitored and controlled should have no problem travelling; however, travel is not recommended for people with uncontrolled angina, abnormal heart arrhythmia, or uncontrolled congestive heart failure (CHF).

Cardiac incidents occur only in one to two patients per million, during air travel. However, some heart patients need to avoid flying, at least temporarily, because of the increased risk posed by being confined to a high-altitude (and therefore low-oxygen) compartment. (Airplane cabins are pressurised to the equivalent of approximately 10,000 feet above sea level.)

Once you’ve notified your doctor of your travel plans, it is a good idea to document the following medical information:

List of all drugs you are taking. Use generic names, and indicate dosages, as drug formulations vary from country to country.

Copy of a baseline electrocardiogram

Name and contact information of your physician

Brief letter from your doctor (on letterhead, signed and dated) that describes your condition, the need for any supplies or medications, and information on any implanted pacemakers or cardiac defibrillators you may have. Pack and carry more than enough of each of your medications to cover the length of your trip as medication may be difficult to procure once you reach your destination. Keep all medications in their original containers. Pack all of your medical information and medications in your cabin luggage to avoid losing them in misplaced luggage. Patients should not fly if:

They have had a heart attack (myocardial infarction) within the past two weeks

They have had coronary artery stent placement within the past one week

They have had coronary artery bypass surgery within the past two weeks (longer if they have

had complications)

They have unstable angina, poorly controlled heart failure, or uncontrolled arrhythmias On board oxygen (which is separate from the emergency system) should be requested well in advance to ensure an adequacy of supply if there is frequent angina or a reduced oxygen level in the patient at ground level. Cabin staff are trained for emergencies and all airlines carry first aid and medical emergency kits. Most major airline flights are now equipped with a ‘smart’ inflight defibrillator.

The following is a list of symptoms that should prompt you to seek medical attention if they occur during your travel:

Irregular pulse or one unusually fast (faster than 100 beats per minute) or very slow (lower than 50 beats per minute)
Shortness of breath
Light-headedness
Unusual fatigue
Unusual swelling of the legs and/or feet
Chest pain or discomfort
Precautions to take during air travel

Travelers over 50 years or even those under 50 years with one or more risk factors for deep vein thrombosis (DVT) (obesity, varicose veins, pregnancy, oral contraceptives) should observe the following precautions to prevent DVT

1. Move your legs

Don’t sit with your legs bent for hours on end. Stretch your legs out from time to time. Stretching and moving the legs stops blood stagnating in the deep veins of the calf

2. Don’t get dehydrated

Drink plenty of fluid — water is ideal Avoid excessive alcohol, which tends to cause dehydration
3. Wear compression stockings

Graduated compression stockings reduce the risk of DVT. They also help to prevent ankle swelling

Below knee stockings are the most comfortable kind, and seem just as effective as full length stockings

Compression stockings can be prescribed by a doctor and can be bought at chemists, surgical appliance specialists and also at airports

4. Aspirin

Taking an aspirin tablet (either a 75mg ‘junior aspirin’ or a normal 300mg aspirin tablet) a few hours before a long journey may provide a small amount of extra protection against DVT. Patients with pacemakers and implantable cardiac defibrillators should be rerouted for security clearance with hand held metal detectors and hand searches. The hand held device should be held over the ICD for no more than a few seconds.