When it comes to reducing the risk of cardiovascular disease, traditional methods like lowering blood pressure, managing cholesterol levels, quitting smoking, and controlling diabetes are crucial. However, a newly discovered risk factor has emerged from stem cells in the bone marrow. These specialized cells can undergo genetic changes over time, leading to a condition known as clonal hematopoiesis of indeterminate potential (CHIP), which has been linked to an increased risk of cardiovascular disease and even blood cancer development.
According to cardiologist and physician-scientist Amy Lin from the University of California, San Francisco, CHIP significantly raises the risk of cardiovascular disease, almost doubling it compared to other factors like high blood pressure, cholesterol levels, and smoking. Studies in animals have shown that CHIP can increase inflammation and accelerate the formation of arterial plaques, ultimately increasing the risk of heart attacks.
Older age and diabetes further contribute to this risk, making it essential to address these factors to maintain heart health.
2024-04-26 06:00:00
Source from www.sciencenews.org