Halloween symbol SCARES away heart attacks?

Hope you are all in for a night of fright this Halloween. And while ghosts and ghouls are definitely frightening, let me tell you about something that’s REALLY scary…

Someone in the U.S. has a heart attack EVERY 40 SECONDS!

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

And this latest finding is no exception… it’s a cutting-edge “venom” therapy. 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…

Researchers in Australia found that the venom from one of the world’s most deadly SPIDERS could eventually lead to a life-saving treatment for heart attack survivors! This according to a study published in the journal, Circulation.

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

In lab studies researchers found that a molecule extracted from the Fraser Island (K’gari) funnel web spider (which is considered one of the world’s deadliest spiders) has been able to BLOCK the ‘death signal’ that’s sent from the heart during a heart attack, resulting in increased survival outcomes.

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 causes the cell environment to become acidic, sending 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.

Lab studies around this spider-venom therapy for heart attacks are so promising the researchers leading the study could begin clinical human trials soon.

As more research continues to unfold we will be sure to keep you informed.

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

To science-backed heart attack solutions,

Cory Templeman
Senior Editor, eAlert

PS – Preventing heart attack starts with your diet. Learn why two veggies can help wipe out the leading risk factor of a heart attack.

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