<!–
<!–
<!– <!–
<!–
<!–
<!–
British researchers are investigating whether an existing drug could save thousands of lives a year by preventing morning heart attacks.
It has long been known that heart attacks are more common and can be more severe first thing in the morning.
Many of these are triggered by a life-threatening condition called ventricular arrhythmia, when the heart beats at an abnormal rate. It is thought to be linked to up to 80 per cent of the 70,000 sudden cardiac deaths a year in England and Wales.
But scientists have discovered what triggers the development of this potentially fatal arrhythmia and have discovered that a drug can block the process. Professor James Leiper, associate medical director at the British Heart Foundation, which funded the research, said the study was “intriguing” and “could allow us to explore new treatment options that could reduce arrhythmias in people at highest risk.”
It has long been known that heart attacks are more common and can be more severe first thing in the morning (file image)
Scientists have discovered that a drug can block the process that causes the development of a life-threatening arrhythmia (file image)
The team, led by Dr Alicia D’Souza of Imperial College London and Mark Boyett, honorary professor at the University of Bradford, found that the stress hormone cortisol, which naturally peaks in the morning, binds to heart cells and triggers changes. in the electrical signals that control how our heart beats.
In healthy hearts this does not cause any problems. But in diseased hearts, this leads to the development of dangerous ventricular arrhythmias.
When the team injected the mice with a drug called RU486, which prevents cortisol from binding to heart cells, these electrical changes did not occur.
The drug is already used to treat Cushing’s syndrome, in which the body produces too much cortisol. Patients often develop increased fat in the chest or stomach, as well as a red, swollen face.
Dr D’Souza said: “We have known for some time that, due to our natural circadian rhythm or ‘biological clock’, cortisol levels peak in the morning. We also know that ventricular arrhythmias are more common due to morning. We now know that the two are linked.
“Surprisingly, when we used a drug to block the effect of cortisol on heart cells in mice, they were no longer susceptible to arrhythmia in the morning.”
The team now plans to replicate these findings in human hearts. Professor Boyett said: “If we, or others, could develop a drug based on our findings, it could save thousands of lives.”