“Creepy, crawler” therapy STOPS heart attacks?!

Today is Halloween.

And I’ve got a TERRIFYING statistic to share with you.

Research has found that someone in the U.S. has a heart attack EVERY 40 SECONDS!

Maybe you, or a loved one, are a heart attack survivor. If so, you know that surviving a heart attackis like getting a new lease on life.

But even if you’re one of the ‘lucky’ ones (or you’re fortunate enough to have never had a heart attack) it’s not an experience you want to ever have – or repeat!

Now, it’s no secret that a healthy diet, staying active, and avoiding unhealthy ‘vices’ (like smoking), are the best ways to keep your heart healthy and lower your risk.

But that hasn’t stopped scientists and researchers from continuing to search for other methods that can stop deadly heart attacks…

And this latest, breakthrough study is no exception… it’s a cutting-edge “venom therapy” and, though it sounds creepy enough to be featured in a Halloween movie, it could one day be a game-changer when it comes to treating and stopping heart attacks.

Here’s a sneak peek…

According to a study published in Circulation, researchers in Australia found that the venom from one of the world’s most deadly SPIDERS could one day lead to a life-saving treatment for heart attack survivors!

That’s right… one of these eight-legged critters could ‘scare off’ heart attacks.

How?

Well, researchers found, in lab studies, that a molecule extracted from the Fraser Island (K’gari) funnel web spider(which is considered one of the world’s deadliest spiders) is able to block the ‘death signal’ that’s sent from the heart during a heart attack – which could lead to better survival outcomes.

You see, after a heart attack, blood flow to the heart is reduced, resulting in a lack of oxygen to heart muscle. This lack of oxygen results in an acidic cell environment, which sends a message for heart cells to ‘die.’

But it turns out that a protein from this deadly spider venom BLOCKS acid-sensing ion channels in the heart – stopping the ‘death signal’ and improving heart cell survival.

The lab studies around this spider-venom therapy for heart attacks are so promising, that the researchers leading the study could begin clinical human trials in two years.

As more research continues to unfold about this cutting-edge therapy, we will be sure to report it.

In the meantime, if you have heart disease – or have had a heart attack – continue to work with your doctor on a treatment and recovery plan best suited for you.

And speaking of Halloween, check your inbox later today. I’ll be sharing how one Halloween “mainstay” can help you live longer.

To scaring away heart attacks,
Sarah Reagan

Sources:

Anderer, John. “Deadly spider venom can help heart attack survivors recover: ‘This could be life-changing.'” https://studyfinds.org/deadly-spider-venom-help-heart-attack-survivors-recover/

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. “Heart Disease Facts.” https://www.cdc.gov/heartdisease/facts.htm