A new study suggests that sensitivity to common food allergens, such as cow's milk and peanuts, could be an important and previously unknown cause of heart disease.
The results also found that the increased risk of death from cardiovascular disease included those without obvious food allergies.
The researchers stated that this increased risk could equal or exceed the risks posed by smoking, as well as diabetes and rheumatoid arthritis.
The Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology paper describes studies led by Corinne Kitt, MD, PhD, professor of pediatric allergy and immunology in the UNC Department of Pediatrics, in two longitudinal studies.
The results showed that those who produced IgE antibodies in response to cow's milk and other foods were at greater risk of death related to cardiovascular disease. This was true even when traditional risk factors for heart disease, such as smoking, high blood pressure and diabetes, were taken into account.
The strongest link was to cow's milk, but IgE antibodies to other allergens, such as peanuts and shrimp, were also significant among those who ate these foods.
The researchers reported that this alarming finding represents the first time that IgE antibodies found in common foods have been linked to an increased risk of death from cardiovascular disease.
The findings do not conclusively prove that food antibodies cause increased risk, but the work builds on previous studies linking allergic inflammation and heart disease.
The study found that the strongest link to death from cardiovascular disease was found in people who had the antibodies, but continued to eat regularly, indicating that their allergies were not severe.
The researchers used two methods to examine the relationship between IgE sensitivity to foods and cardiovascular mortality. They used data from 4,414 adults who participated in the National Health and Examination Survey (NHANES) and 960 participants in the Wake Forest Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis (MESA) group.
MESA participants were enrolled from 2000 to 2002 and were followed for up to 19 years.
NHANES participants were enrolled from 2005 to 2006 and data on mortality were tracked up to 14 years.
In the NHANES study, 229 deaths from cardiovascular disease were reported, and 960 deaths were reported in the MESA study.
Milk allergy was specifically associated with heart disease in both NHANES and MESA. The researchers also discovered that food allergies to shrimp and peanuts were additional risk factors for heart disease.
While this is the first time that antibodies from allergies to common foods have been linked to cardiovascular deaths, other allergic conditions, such as asthma and the itchy skin rashes known as eczema or atopic dermatitis, have previously been identified as risk factors for the disease. With cardiovascular diseases.
Researchers believe that the antibodies that cause food allergies may affect the heart by activating specialized cells called mast cells. Mast cells in the skin and intestines are known to contribute to classic allergic reactions, but they are also found in the heart blood vessels and heart tissue.
Researchers believe that continued activation of mast cells can lead to inflammation, which contributes to the buildup of harmful plaques that can cause heart attacks or other heart damage.
The researchers call for further studies to explore more about the importance of nutritional education and diet in the development of cardiovascular disease.
A doctor explains the dangers of teeth grinding
According to Dr. Karen Galstyan, a dental, surgical and implant specialist, headaches, neck pain and chronic fatigue can be caused by nighttime teeth grinding.
The doctor points out that people often notice the presence of chips of enamel and feel increased sensitivity of their teeth and weak stability, and they believe that the reason is due to genetic factors. But this is not true. Because tooth grinding ranks third among the most common dental diseases after caries and gingivitis.
According to him, teeth grinding usually occurs during sleep, when a person loses control of himself. But sometimes it appears during the day due to emotional stress. Teeth also wear down due to constant stress, which leads to a malfunction of the temporomandibular joint. Which threatens tooth loss, as crowns and bridges break early. Joint problems can lead to jaw dislocation and loss of chewing function.
The first person to discover teeth grinding is the dentist when he sees cracks in the enamel and non-carious signs at the base of the tooth. To diagnose the condition, X-rays and CT scans are prescribed so that areas of bone tissue destruction are visible. After correcting the bite, the teeth regain their previous height, and it is recommended to wear a night splint to relax the muscles.
The doctor indicates that if the causes of teeth grinding are psychological or neurological, he refers the patient to specialist doctors who choose drug treatment and prescribe behavioral therapy.