Breaking MRI Research Links COPD to Cardiovascular Disease

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, or COPD, is one of the leading causes of death in North America, and its prevalence is only expected to rise in coming years. COPD, the chronic affliction of bronchitis or emphysema, leads over time to a narrowing of the airways, resulting in increased difficulty of breathing. As if having hard time breathing weren’t enough, recent studies have shown that COPD patients are at increased risk of heart attack, stroke, and other cardiovascular issues. A new magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) study conducted in the Netherlands has revealed that the reason for this is that COPD causes arterial thickening, a direct indicator or cardiovascular disease. Keep reading below to learn more about the new information about increased risk of stroke in COPD patients:

Atherosclerosis 

Atherosclerosis, or the hardening of the arteries, is a condition not formerly linked to COPD, but the Netherlands study has shown that the condition is found more commonly in patients suffering from the respiratory disorder than patients with healthy lungs. The reason given for this is that COPD sufferers, (those with dyspnea in particular) are likely to develop lipid-core plaques—the type of plaques formerly associated only with high fat and cholesterol content. 

Findings 

Using MRI and ultrasound technology, and testing eighty patients with COPD and 270 with healthy lungs, researchers found that 74.7 per cent of the COPD participants had arterial hardening, compared with 54.9 per cent of the participants with functioning respiratory systems. These findings are important to COPD sufferers, as they identify potential complications of the disease that were previously unknown, and can help patients take preventative measures against early onset of symptoms.

In conclusion, it is imperative that doctors, radiologists and MRI technologists are made aware of these new findings. The research shows how, more than ever, the health of the lungs is indicative of the health of the entire body. 

Click here to read the full article. Canadian Drugs Online is responding to the rising numbers of people with COPD and breathing problems. 

Cardiovascular disease is a class of diseases that involve the heart or blood vessels (arteries, capillaries and veins). Cardiovascular disease refers to any disease that affects the cardiovascular system, principally cardiac disease, vascular diseases of the brain and kidney, and peripheral arterial disease. The causes of cardiovascular disease are diverse but atherosclerosis and/or hypertension are the most common. Besides, with aging come a number of physiological and morphological changes that alters cardiovascular function and lead to subsequently increased risk of cardiovascular disease, even in healthy asymptomatic individuals.

Cardiovascular diseases remain the biggest cause of deaths worldwide, though over the last two decades, cardiovascular mortality rates have declined in many high-income countries. At the same time cardiovascular deaths and disease have increased at a fast rate in low- and middle-income countries. Although cardiovascular disease usually affects older adults, the antecedants of cardiovascular disease, notably atherosclerosis begin in early life, making primary prevention efforts necessary from childhood. There is therefore increased emphasis on preventing atherosclerosis by modifying risk factors, such as healthy eating, exercise, and avoidance of smoking.