It is believed that blood pressure
and cholesterol levels are not the most accurate way of assessing the risk of
heart attack and stroke. Instead, it is now said that measuring calcium
build-up in the arteries gives a better indicator of the likelihood of heart
problems. Calcium build-up in the arteries marks the calcification of plaque,
which results in hardening that can lead to heart attacks. Recently, it has
been found that a genetic variation increases one’s risk of developing these
deposits in the heart. This variation gives us essential clues as to how we
should treat the disease that is found in nearly 7% of the world’s population.
Wendy Post, from the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine said “The
latest findings could lead to the development of targeted medications to slow
the progression of the disease, which can cause chest pain and shortness of
breath, and can in some cases require surgery”.
When looking around for articles
this one particularly caught my eye because a few years ago my dad found out
that he had severely clogged arteries. After reading through this article, it
was interesting to learn that a genetic variation could have likely been the
cause for his blockage. With these new findings that there is the possibility
for developing medications to target and slow the progression of the calcium
deposits. It’s exciting that these findings have the potential to go on and affect
the future of diagnosing and treating aortic valve disease.
I think it is remarkable that scientists have now distinguished calcium build-up as the best way to assess the risk of a heart attack or stroke. The only methods that I have ever heard of that assess the risk of a heart attack or stroke are by analyzing cholesterol and blood pressure levels. This is a prime example of how science and technology continue to lead to new medical advancements. This new method of measuring calcium build-up could ultimately save the lives of many people. Every step forward counts, hopefully this is only the beginning of research in this area of the medical spectrum.
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