More Deadly Than A Heart Attack

more-deadly-than-a-heart-attack_300Heart problems represent the most frequent causes of death in the U.S. But researchers at George Washington University have found a common condition that has no symptoms but is more deadly than a heart attack.

Research involving more than 36,000 people shows that acute kidney injury (AKI), an abrupt decline in kidney function that often arises after major surgeries or severe infections, may be more deadly than a heart attack.

This analysis looked at 36,980 patients discharged with a diagnosis of AKI or heart attack (myocardial infarction, or MI) who were admitted to a VA facility between October 1999 and December 2005.

The researchers discovered that death occurred most often in patients who experienced both AKI and MI (57.5 percent), and least often in patients with uncomplicated admissions for MI (32.3 percent). Patients with AKI or AKI with MI later experienced more major heart and kidney problems than those with MI alone.

“The findings from this study will be critical for planning future interventional trials in patients with AKI,” says researcher Lakhmir Chawla. “Because AKI remains an ongoing and increasing public health hazard, more research into the treatment and management of this syndrome is critically required.”

So if you’re suffering health problems like heart difficulties, remind your doctor to also check the health of your kidneys. It could save your life.

Carl Lowe

By Carl Lowe

has written about health, fitness and nutrition for a wide range of publications including Prevention Magazine, Self Magazine and Time-Life Books. The author of more than a dozen books, he has been gluten-free since 2007.

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