Researchers spanning three continents have pointed the finger at nine flawed genes after carrying out the largest-ever trawl through human DNA to search for inherited risks of a heart attack.
Variants of genes located in chromosomes 2, 3, 6, 12 and 21 boost the risk of myocardial infarction, according to five studies published online on Sunday in the latest issue of the journal Nature Genetics.
Heart Attack - Overview
Heart attack is the death of the heart muscle due to loss of blood supply. Heart disease is the leading cause of death in the United States. Other names for heart attack include acute myocardial infarction, coronary thrombosis, and coronary occlusion.
Heart attack is the death of the heart muscle due to loss of blood supply. Heart disease is the leading cause of death in the United States. Other names for heart attack include acute myocardial infarction, coronary thrombosis, and coronary occlusion.
The variants are single changes in the code between a healthy gene and a flawed one.
These tiny differences can have big repercussions on the protein-making machinery that maintains the cardiovascular system.
Animation of heart attack symptoms
Heart attack can cause symptoms such as Chest pain or discomfort, Shortness of breath and pain in neck, back, arm, or shoulder and is due to blockage of blood supply to the heart muscles
Heart attack can cause symptoms such as Chest pain or discomfort, Shortness of breath and pain in neck, back, arm, or shoulder and is due to blockage of blood supply to the heart muscles
The results were then matched against the genomes of "controls", or otherwise healthy people, to get confirmation.
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Animation on Coronary Artery Bypass Surgery (CABG)
Coronary Artery Bypass Surgery (CABG) is performed to restore the blood supply to areas of heart that have been reduced or has no blood supply due to blockage in the artery.
Coronary Artery Bypass Surgery (CABG) is performed to restore the blood supply to areas of heart that have been reduced or has no blood supply due to blockage in the artery.
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