New research suggests another potential risk factor for cardiovascular disease, but University of Iowa Heart Care specialists may have a way to control it.
Americans now face another major risk factor in heart disease. It's called inflammation of the blood vessel, and it can eventually lead to clogged arteries.
Recent research at University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics shows chronic infections can potentially cause inflammation of the blood vessels. This long-term exposure to a substance known as endotoxins can lead to blood vessel blockages and eventually heart disease.
"We're trying to understand what is triggering the inflammation in patients and secondly what can we do to try and treat that," says Neal Weintraub, M.D., director of cardiovascular diseases at UI Hospitals and Clinics.
University of Iowa Heart Care researchers believe a potential treatment option exists. Common cholesterol-lowering drugs known as statins can actually block the inflammation. Weintraub and his team are now working to better understand what causes the inflammation.
"If there's some way we can better understand what triggers this disease, and we can stop people from coming in at that point, that's what's exciting and what drives and motivates me to discover and do better."
Clinical testing for this disorder is also becoming more common by heart care specialists, including those at University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics.
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