The heart is one of the most vital organs in the human body, pumping blood tirelessly to sustain life. When heart muscle, known as cardiomyocytes, are damaged due to conditions such as a heart attack, the consequences can be serious and long-lasting. Traditionally, it was believed that heart muscle cells could not regenerate, causing permanent damage. However, a recent study has found that gentle shockwaves can regenerate heart tissue in patients after bypass surgery. It is based on health data from a small group of people – 63 – but researchers in Austria are thrilled to see the results.
“For the first time we are seeing heart muscle regeneration in a clinical setting, which could help millions of people,” said Johannes Hohlfeld, a professor at Innsbruck Medical University. BBC,
The researchers used a device they dubbed the “space hairdryer” for the study, and now plan to apply the results to a broader group of people.
During the study, they found that people given the new treatment could walk longer distances — and their hearts could pump more blood.
Heart disease is one of the leading causes of death worldwide. The World Health Organization (WHO) says 18 million people die each year due to heart-related complications.
So far, medications and other treatments can help control the disease and reduce the chance of a heart attack. In severe cases, surgeons perform bypass surgery — connecting a healthy blood vessel above or below the blocked artery — to restore blood flow.
So, this news has them excited. Studies have shown that it takes 10 minutes to stimulate the growth of new blood vessels in the area damaged by a heart attack.
“Shockwave” technology is used to treat other conditions such as injured ligaments. High-powered waves are used to break up kidney stones.
Details of the study have been published European Heart JournalThe research team said that after one year of treatment, the amount of blood pumped by the heart increased by more than 11 percent. Also, patients were able to walk longer distances without resting.
“This means they will be able to go out walking their dog or going to the supermarket again as part of their everyday lives. We also predict that their life expectancy will be longer and they will be less likely to need to be hospitalised again,” Professor Holfeld said.
But Dr Sonya Babu-Narayan, a cardiologist and associate medical director at the British Heart Foundation, said there was room for improvement in the treatment and called for “larger and longer trials”.
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