Heart Attack and Stem Cells
Myocardial infarction, more commonly known as a heart attack, commonly occurs due to coronary heart disease and the arteries in the heart becoming blocked with plaques of cholesterol. This blockage restricts blood flow and oxygen to the heart resulting in serious damage to the heart tissue; if not treated urgently myocardial infarction can be fatal.[1]
There are approximately 805,000 heart attacks in the United States each year, about two thirds (605,000) of which are a first heart attack.[2]
Heart disease cost approximately $417.9 billion between 2020 and 2021. This includes the cost of healthcare, medication, and lost productivity.[2]
Heart Attack Facts
- Every 40 seconds someone will have a heart attack in the United States[2]
- One in five heart attacks are silent, with the person being unaware that they suffered one [2]
- Between 7.7 and 17.6% of people who were admitted to hospital with a heart attack die within 30 days [3]
- Heart disease is the leading cause of death for people of most ethnicities in the United States [2]
- Survival rates for heart attacks are between 90% and 97% [4]
Heart Attack and Stem Cells
One major flaw of the human body is the inability of the heart to naturally repair cardiac muscle which has been lost, leaving millions vulnerable to heart failure around the world.[5]
However, researchers believe stem cells may have the ability to repair the damage caused by heart attacks. While the stem cells acquired from an aging body may have limited benefit, cord blood stem cells offer much greater promise.
A study by the University of Bristol, UK, found that heart muscle-like cells developed from human umbilical cord blood derived stem cells could help repair the cells in heart muscle which becomes damaged because of a heart attack.
Professor Ascione, who led the study, said: “We believe our study represents a significant advancement and overcomes the technical hurdle of deriving cardiac muscle-type cells from human cord blood. The method we have found has the attributes of simplicity and consistency. This will permit more robust manipulation of these cells towards better cell homing and cardiac repair in patients with myocardial infarction.
“Our research suggests that in the future stem cells derived from cord blood bank facilities might be used for repair after a heart attack.”[5]
References
- https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/heart-attack/
- https://www.cdc.gov/heart-disease/data-research/facts-stats/index.html
- https://www.beckershospitalreview.com/cardiology/hospitals-with-highest-lowest-30-day-mortality-rates-for-heart-attack-patients/
- https://www.verywellhealth.com/how-to-survive-a-heart-attack-1745323
- www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/10/111013103647.htm
- http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3586268/
- Circulation, 126(5), 551–568. https://doi.org/10.1161/CIRCULATIONAHA.111.086074
- Circulation research, 121(10), 1192–1204. https://doi.org/10.1161/CIRCRESAHA.117.310712
- Circulation research, 123(2), 266–287. https://doi.org/10.1161/CIRCRESAHA.118.311217
The information contained in this article is for information purposes only and is not intended to replace the advice of a medical expert. If you have any concerns about your health we urge you to discuss them with your doctor.
