Chlamydia can cause heart disease and ‘hardening of the arteries’
This has been all over the news as of late and I thought it was worth another peek.
… he has identified how two different kinds of Chlamydia can cause both coronary artery disease and miscarriages. Solving one mystery gave him clues that he needed to figure out the other. By focusing on the immune system mechanisms in Chlamydia infections, Azenabor has identified an important link in seemingly unrelated health problems. The result could be new treatments and prevention strategies for both heart disease and infertility. Chlamydia pneumoniae is a microbe that normally causes pneumonia and bronchitis, but it has long been associated with atherosclerosis, a cardiovascular disease also called “hardening of the arteries.”
Huh? Chlamydia? Yes, when the macrophages’ cell walls are infected with the C. pneumoniae their usually tight cholesterol, which they regularly store, traffics that cholesterol into the cell membrane’s and cause them to become rigid and unable to move…
The bacteria also “hijacks” the cells signaling in a way that helps promote the existence of the Chlamydia pneumoniae. The bacterium also disturbs the macrophage’s production of toxins in a process that transforms them into “signaling molecules,” which support functions that keep the bacterium alive. Because of this the bacteria can very quickly reproduce and accumulate in the blood vessels causing stiffening and heart disease, ie. atherosclerosis.
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Tags: chlamydia, hardening of arteries, heart-disease, STDRelated Stories
POSTED IN: Heart Disease in Women, Hearty Blogging, Hearty Info
1 opinion for Chlamydia can cause heart disease and ‘hardening of the arteries’
Jack
May 30, 2008 at 12:29 am
In the book Hidden Causes of Heart Attack And Stroke (inflammation, cardiology’s new frontier) the author introduced Chlamydia Pneumonaie along with other bacterial infections and how they can complicate the walls of the arteries. Also what to take to neutralize them. Although there has been much speculation, the jury remains out in regard to CP and cardiovascular disease even though on it’s face it seems a reasonable correlation. There are 55 chapters in this book that was reviewed by John Rumberger, M.D., P.h.D, from Mayo and Ohio State: “until this book, there has not been a reliable resource for the patient as the subject is vast and complicated.” Much of what the author discussed has been moving into mainstream medicine. For instance he warned of MRSA coming into the community years before it did. The role of fibrinogen and how to neutralize it when in elevation. Most doctors don’t know today that the AHA says it ranks with high blood pressure and LDL as a risk factor. The downside of statin therapy when C drops too low and the need for coenzyme Q10. People know more about these things now but not even 4 years ago. For instance, Canada makes warnings manditory on all prescriptions for statins not the US. I have frequently heard the author on the number one night time radio show on 500 stations. The last time I heard him he was on for 4 full hours discussing stem cell therapy for the heart and other diseases.
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