'Mini Heart Attacks': Condition Heart to Survive a Major One?

Filed in archive Cardiovascular Health , Studies on January 8, 2008

Apparently, brief periods of blocked blood flow can help condition the heart to survive a future heart attack.

Such were the findings of a five-year lab study by University of Cincinnati (UC) researchers:

In a five-year laboratory study, UC surgeon-scientist Karyn Butler, MD, found that when the heart experiences short periods of stress, either from reduced blood flow or high blood pressure, it activates a protective molecular pathway-known as JAK-STAT-that protects the heart muscle.

The pathway, which is normally dormant in the heart, was originally identified in disease-fighting white blood cells as a mediator of infection and has recently been targeted for its role in heart health.

Butler says when the JAK-STAT pathway is active and functioning, it can help precondition and protect the heart from damage caused when blood flow is restored after a period of decreased flow, as occurs after a heart attack.

Hmm...interesting eh?! I wonder if there is one such mini stress that debilitated a patient.

But anyway, the findings above will hopefully lead to heart attack drugs.

Find more details from EurekAlert.