The heart generates its own electrical signal (also called an electrical impulse) which is critical to the steady, regulated heartbeat. The electrical impulse triggers the heart muscle to contract in the correct sequence, thus coordinating each heartbeat and assuring that the heart works as efficiently as possible. If there is any complication in these electrical impulses reaching the heart's cells, the heart's pumping chambers suddenly begin to beat erratically in a way that stops the flow of blood to the brain and body. This condition is known as 'ventricular fibrillation' which causes sudden cardiac death (SCD). Sudden cardiac death is immediately fatal unless the victim is treated with a defibrillator – a medical device to artificially send regulated electric shock to the heart to make it beat steadily again.
Most sudden cardiac death cases occur in morning hours, typically between 6 am and 10 am. Scientists have been busy researching possible causes for this. They somehow suspected a connection between SCD and the 24-hour body clock. The 24-hour body clock governs cycles of sleep and wakefulness called 'circadian rhythms'.
Dr. Mukesh Jain, MD, and his group have discovered that low levels of a protein called KLF15, which helps regulate the heart's electrical activity, can cause SCD in morning hours.
Source
No comments:
Post a Comment