Heart Disease

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Higher Levels of Homocystein Amino Acid

2.85 In the recent past there have been cases when people with coronary artery disease did not have high blood cholesterol levels. Instead they had high homocysteine levels. Among the non-conventional factors homocysteine is known to be a risk factor.

2.86 Homocysteine is a sulphur containing amino acid that is said to increase the risk of premature coronary artery disease – even among people with normal cholesterol levels. Too much of homocystein can lead to a higher risk of heart disease, stroke and peripheral vascular disease i.e. fat deposits in peripheral arteries. Hence, it is always advisable to have your homocysteine levels checked, more so when you have a family history of coronary heart disease.

2.87 Extremely high levels of homocysteine can also cause blood clots, rapid bone loss and, in children, mental retardation. But in general, high homocysteine does not cause symptoms until and unless one of the diseases with which it is associated, appears. Even so, there is nothing complex about it. Abnormal elevation of homocysteine occurs among people whose diet contains inadequate amounts of folic acid, vitamin B6 or vitamin B12. Regardless of the cause of the elevation, basic dietary supplementation with one or more of these vitamins can lower plasma levels of homocysteine.

Paediatric Problem

2.88 Some health practitioners believe that coronary artery disease is a paediatric problem and prevention should start before birth. Besides the traditional and newer risk factors, foetal under nutrition in the womb adversely influences the program development of adaptive metabolic and physiologic responses. This is associated with increased risk of glucose intolerance, hypertension, dyslipidaemia and adult coronary artery disease. Compared to children on formula feeds, breastfed children have a lower incidence of insulin dependent diabetes mellitus (Type-I diabetes), hypercholesteremia and hypertension – all risk factors for coronary artery disease. A longer duration (at least 6-12 months) of breastfeeding leads to a decreased risk of obesity and other heart-related complications.

Psychosocial Factors

2.89 Psychological factors (stress, anxiety) and social factors (negative emotions, anger, hostility) when lumped together are termed as psychosocial factors. For better or worse, your emotions and moods, and even parts of your personality, can influence your heart. It is not a one way process. The health of your circulatory system can affect how you feel. Habits that are good for the heart seem to be good for the mind and brain, too. These factors affect heart disease in two basic ways. Some contribute to atherosclerosis – the slow corrosive process that damages artery walls – others put you at risk of heart attack or stroke. The contribution of psychosocial factors to heart disease is on a par with high blood pressure, obesity, cholesterol problems and smoking.

2.90 Chronic Stress – Chronic stress caused by constant emotional pressure from work, financial problems, job loss, troubled marriage or divorce, bereavement, taking care of parent or partner, or even living in an unsafe neighbourhood has been linked with the development of heart disease. Chronic stress leads to increased secretion of adrenalin and cortisol hormones and other inflammatory factors raise blood pressure, invite diabetes, constrict the arteries of the heart and slow down the immune system. Stress hormones also activate the nervous system, accelerate heart rate and tense muscles. At the same time chronic stress slows down all the bodily functions that can be “put on hold” such as digestion and tissue repair. These psychological stress mechanisms can contribute to the growth and spread of diseases including heart disease. Most psychological risk factors are neither bad nor good. A little dose of stress, for example, can motivate you to face a challenge or finish a project. Constant stress, though, can be harmful.