Reference no: EM133410048
"Is there a link between cancer and heart disease?" is a TEDx video presented by Dr. Nicolas J. Leeper, a professor and the chief of vascular medicine at Stanford University in Southern California, published in September of 2022. Dr. Leeper (2022) proposes that cancer and cardiovascular disease, the two leading causes of death globally, are alike in more ways than society and science may think. Past scientific knowledge identifies that cancer and cardiovascular disease have affected different populations, contain various risk factors and biologically are different diseases (Leeper, 2022). Cancer is often recognized as the overgrowth of cells, while cardiovascular disease is regarded as the buildup of plaque in arteries affecting blood flow and causing blockages (Leeper, 2022). However, as science has evolved, it is now recognized that both these diseases have more common risk factors that overlap.
However, from recent studies, it has been identified when genetically testing the chromosomes of patients who had heart attacks, chromosome 9 is highly elevated (Leeper, 2022). This is a significant finding because chromosome 9 is an important gene that controls cancer (Leeper, 2022). It has also been found that both diseases are linked together due to inflammation, immune cells and abnormal blood vessels (Leeper, 2022).
Dr. Leeper (2022) discusses how these found connections drove the scientific community to hypothesize that one disease ultimately put patients at risk of developing the other disease. In a German study, the hypothesis was tested in mice, and it found that being predisposed to cardiovascular disease caused benign tumour cells to metastasize and become malignant forms of cancer (Leeper, 2022). From this study, it was evident that to control cancer in patients, it was primarily necessary first to manage cardiovascular disease (Leeper, 2022).
Dr. Leeper's focus surrounds the use of these studies to develop therapies based on genetic chromosome information. He aims to identify pathways in genetic information in which treatments such as pharmacological drugs can aim to lower the risk or prevent cardiovascular disease and, in turn, cancer (Leeper, 2022). Some pharmaceutical companies have already created drug therapies that have affected both diseases by accident, which first focused on cardiovascular disease by seeing major strides in effect on cancer (Leeper, 2022). Another method focused on increasing macrophages' ability to combat cancer, which has also been shown to indirectly affect cardiovascular disease and plaque buildup in arteries (Leeper, 2022).
While science and the research surrounding these diseases have evolved tremendously, it is important to continue to evaluate past knowledge to find deeper connections to better treat and prevent diseases (Leeper, 2022).
Connection to Course Context
The TEDx presentation highlights that the human body is an insanely unique and complex system (Leeper, 2022). While many human diseases are thought to operate due to their own risk factors and biological information, it is not entirely the case (Leeper, 2022). Rather, the body systems function in their own capacity but rely on each other to execute their goals. The systems act as a team in order to be effective. This course has emphasized this through the connection of the cardiovascular and respiratory systems, the digestive and nervous systems, the skeletal and muscular systems, and so on.
As suggested in the TEDx presentation, the cardiovascular system is an important and highly interconnected system affecting the entire human body. The cardiovascular system aids in transporting respiratory gases, hormones, waste, and nutrients throughout the entire body to specified tissues and organs to allow the body to function accordingly (Marieb & Hoehn, 2019). Ultimately without the heart pumping blood, the body cannot sustain life.
Lots of scientific research and recommendation suggests in order to protect the cardiovascular system, key risk factors should be managed appropriately. Dr. Leeper (2022) suggested following the American Heart Association's (2019) Life's Simple Seven of "stop smoking, eat better, get active, lose weight, manage blood pressure, control cholesterol, reduce blood sugar."
However, the focus on mental well-being in relation to the cardiovascular system is often not explicitly suggested. Due to the stigmatization of mental health, the link to cardiovascular disease is overlooked. Yet, researchers such as Li et al. (2022) found that patients with less than adequate mental health contribute to the risk of cardiovascular disease. Additionally, a literature review conducted by Vos (2021) also explores how patients with cardiovascular disease can benefit from psychological therapies as stress, concern, and an inability to cope impact their diagnosis and recovery of the disease.
While many interventions for cardiovascular disease can be applied to mental well-being, it is important to recognize that mental well-being is different for everyone and complex due to external factors affecting patients. Future research should explore if there is a correlation between how individuals manage their mental health and incidences of cardiovascular disease.
Questions
What other body systems are connected, and how do diseases manifest?
How is mental well-being connected to other forms of physical health?