When most people think of heart attacks, they picture high cholesterol, smoking, or high blood pressure. However, infections, particularly viral ones, can also impact the heart and, in some cases, trigger a heart attack, even in younger adults. Research has shown that bacterial infections, where bacteria enter the bloodstream, can increase the risk of heart disease and contribute to arterial plaque buildup.

To understand this better, we spoke with Dr Nagesh H.E, Consultant, Cardiology at Manipal Hospital Malleshwaram, Bengaluru, who explains how infections can affect the heart.

Study Claims Heart Attack May Be Linked To Bacterial Infections

A groundbreaking study from researchers in Finland and the UK, published in the Journal of the American Heart Association, suggests that heart attacks may sometimes have an infectious component. The study found that arterial plaques, those fatty deposits in blood vessels can quietly host bacterial biofilms, which are protective layers where bacteria can survive, hidden from the immune system and antibiotics. These biofilms can remain undetected for decades. However, when a viral infection or another stressor occurs, it can “reactivate” the bacteria. This triggers inflammation that may rupture the plaque’s fibrous cap, causing a blood clot and potentially leading to a heart attack.

How Infections Can Trigger Heart Attacks?

Heart attacks usually occur when blood flow to the heart is blocked, often due to fatty deposits in the arteries called atherosclerotic plaques. These plaques usually stay stable for years, but certain factors, including infections, intense stress, or heavy smoking can make them unstable.

“Infections, especially viral lung infections, can cause inflammation in the blood vessels,” says Dr. Nagesh. “This can lead to blood clots that block circulation, triggering a heart attack, even in people who don’t have serious cholesterol issues.”

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How Infection-Related Heart Attacks Differ?

Unlike traditional heart attacks linked to cholesterol, infection-related heart attacks can happen at any age, though they are more common in younger adults. Blood clots, rather than fat buildup, are usually the main problem, and these can occur suddenly, without warning.

“These heart attacks can be tricky because they may strike younger people who normally wouldn’t think they’re at risk,” adds Dr Nagesh.

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How to Protect Your Heart During and After an Infection?

Dr Nagesh advises: “Avoid heavy physical activity during and for a couple of weeks after an infection. This helps reduce the risk of triggering a heart attack while your body is still recovering.”

Other tips include:

• Rest and recover fully before returning to strenuous activities.
• Watch for warning signs such as chest pain, unusual shortness of breath, or extreme fatigue during or after illness.
• Maintain overall heart health by controlling blood pressure, avoiding smoking, and keeping cholesterol in check.

Waking up every morning is different for everyone. While some people like to do it early morning, getting a head start into your day, while other like to sleep in till the last moment they can. Out of the two, the first one is a better choice as it gives you time to gather yourself and work towards a productive day. While sleeping in late, not only means you are rushing, but it also stresses you out.

But what if you find out that another aspect of your health is being affected by an essential part of your morning routine?

In a post shared on 16 September, Dr Sudhir Kumar MD, neurologist, explained that your morning routine may be suffering due to the one thing that is responsible for waking you up: alarm clocks!

Do Alarm Clocks Harm Our Health?

While alarms are a part of modern life, relying on them daily can have negative effects. An alarm often forces you out of a deep sleep cycle. This sudden interruption can lead to something called "sleep inertia," that foggy, disoriented feeling that can take a long time to shake off.

If you find yourself constantly needing an alarm, it's often a sign that you're not getting enough sleep in the first place or that your sleep schedule is out of whack. The chronic stress of an alarm clock can also lead to a higher morning blood pressure.

Of course, alarms are sometimes necessary for non-negotiable schedules, like getting to work, class, or catching an early flight. But for your general health, they're best used as a backup, not a routine.

What is The Best Way To Wake Up?

Waking up naturally is the gold standard for your health. When your body is ready to wake up, it does so on its own, signaling that you've completed all your necessary sleep cycles. This means you're more likely to wake up during a lighter stage of sleep, like REM or N2 sleep. The result is that you feel more refreshed and energized, without the grogginess often associated with a jarring wake-up.

There's another huge benefit: no sudden stress. A loud alarm can cause an abrupt jump in cortisol, your stress hormone, as well as an increase in your heart rate and blood pressure. Waking up naturally avoids this sudden shock to your system. People who wake up without an alarm tend to have a better mood and improved mental sharpness throughout the day. This simple act is a sign that you're getting enough quality sleep that's in sync with your body's natural internal clock, or circadian rhythm.

How Can You Wake Up Without An Alarm Clock?

To start waking up naturally, you can train your body's internal clock, also known as your circadian rhythm. The Sleep Foundation explains that by making a few simple adjustments to your daily routine, you can help your body learn when it’s time to feel alert and when it’s time to wind down for sleep.

Use Morning Light

Getting morning light is one of the most powerful ways to regulate your body clock. Just a little sunlight in the morning tells your body it’s time to wake up. This makes you feel more alert during the day and helps you get sleepy later in the evening. Aim for at least 30 minutes of daylight exposure every morning.

Use a Wake-Up Light to Mimic Dawn

A wake-up light, also called a "dawn simulator," can be a great tool for helping you transition away from a standard alarm clock. These devices work by gradually increasing the light in your bedroom over 15 to 45 minutes, just like a natural sunrise. This gentle light helps nudge you toward waking up more smoothly.

Dim the Lights Before Bed

Just as morning light signals your body to wake up, bright lights at night can trick your body into staying awake. Too much artificial light in the evening can delay your circadian rhythm, making it harder to fall asleep and wake up naturally. Try to dim the lights in your home about two hours before bedtime.

Hepatitis B, known to affect millions each year, is one of the most infectious diseases in the world. Being the cause of death for 820,000 people every year, multiple organizations like UNICEF, WHO and Hepatitis Foundation, emphasize how important the vaccines are to ensure the safety of children.

However, the Hepatitis B vaccine, that is mandatory in many countries like India, is now under scrutiny in US. In recent news, the importance of Hepatitis B vaccines has been questioned. Robert F Kennedy junior, the US health Secretary, and Centers of Disease Control and Prevention Advisory committee will review and vote on the recommendations for Hepatitis B, measles-mumps-rubella-varicella and COVID-19.

The group is expected to vote on whether to recommend that the hepatitis B vaccine, which is currently given to newborns, be delayed until children are four years old.

This is a big departure from the current practice, which has been in place for more than 30 years. Since this vaccine was recommended for all newborns, the number of hepatitis B cases in children and teens has dropped by 99%.

The reasoning they gave behind this decision, as the new chairman of the ACIP, Martin Kulldorff, explained is that delaying the vaccine for newborns might be a good idea if the mother is not known to have the virus. He has said that since the disease is mainly spread through sexual contact and drug use, a newborn who is not at high risk doesn't need the vaccine right away.

What Is Hepatitis B And Can It Be A Fatal?

Hepatitis B is a serious viral liver infection that poses a significant threat to global health. According to the Hepatitis B Foundation, it is the leading cause of liver cancer, the second deadliest cancer worldwide. The virus is highly contagious—up to 100 times more infectious than HIV.

The infection can be short-lived and severe (acute) or long-term (chronic). A chronic infection can put people at a high risk of developing life-threatening conditions like cirrhosis (scarring of the liver) and liver cancer, explains the World Health Organization.

When Was Hepatitis B Discovered?

The story of the vaccine begins in 1965, when Dr. Baruch Blumberg discovered the hepatitis B virus, a finding that later earned him a Nobel Prize. He and microbiologist Irving Millman went on to develop a blood test for the virus.

By 1971, blood banks began using this new test to screen blood donations, which significantly reduced the risk of getting a hepatitis B infection from a blood transfusion. A few years later, the two scientists created the very first hepatitis B vaccine.

How Does Hepatitis B Spread?

The virus is most commonly transmitted through contact with infected blood and other bodily fluids, including saliva, vaginal fluids, and semen. It can also be passed from a mother to her child during birth. Other ways the virus spreads include:

• Needlestick injuries
• Tattooing and piercing with unsterilized equipment
• Sharing or reusing contaminated needles, especially among people who inject drugs.
• Sexual contact, particularly among unvaccinated individuals with multiple partners.

It is much more common for the infection to become chronic if it is acquired during infancy or early childhood (about 95% of cases) compared to adulthood (less than 5% of cases). This is why vaccinating infants and young children is a top priority.

How Can You Identify Hepatitis B?

Many people who are newly infected with hepatitis B have no symptoms at all. However, some people may experience an acute illness lasting several weeks with symptoms such as:

• Yellowing of the skin and eyes (jaundice)
• Dark urine
• Severe fatigue
• Nausea and vomiting
• Abdominal pain

What Is The Best Way To Prevent Hepatitis B?

In 1981, a more advanced vaccine called "Heptavax" was approved for public use. This vaccine was made from the blood plasma of people infected with the virus. The blood was carefully treated with heat and other methods to inactivate the virus, making the vaccine safe. However, this type of vaccine was later discontinued and is no longer used in the U.S.

A major step forward came in 1986 with the development of a second generation of hepatitis B vaccines. These new vaccines are genetically engineered and do not contain any blood products. They are made synthetically, which means it is impossible to get hepatitis B from the modern vaccines used in the United States today.

Can Hepatitis B Be Eliminated?

According to WHO, about 304 million people around the world are living with chronic hepatitis B or C, and most of them don't have access to the testing and treatment they need.

To aid future immunization, WHO has created a plan to eliminate viral hepatitis as a major public health problem by 2030. The goal is to dramatically reduce both new infections and deaths. However, this needs quick action without sustained action viral hepatitis is projected to cause millions of new infections, liver cancer cases, and deaths by 2030.

COVID-19, in many ways, has affected the way we currently live. While it is not spoken about much, there are some life altering health aspects as well. Many people’s health has taken a hit. According to the World Health Organization, the prevalence of anxiety and depression has increased by 25%. They explain that many people never fully recovered from COVID, which gave rise to long COVID. In the latest development, a new survey has now revealed that it also may have affected menstruation.

Long COVID, which affects millions of people worldwide, has been found to have a significant impact on women's health, particularly their menstrual cycles. A UK survey, done by the University of Edinburgh, of over 12,000 women revealed that long COVID can lead to longer and heavier periods, potentially worsening common symptoms of the condition.

What Is Long COVID And How Is It Different from COVID-19?

Long COVID, also known as post COVID-19 condition (PCC), refers to a wide range of health issues that can last for months or even years after a COVID-19 infection. These symptoms often start within three months of getting sick and can last for at least two months. Long COVID can make it hard for a person to do daily activities like work, household chores, or socialize.

Over 200 different symptoms have been linked to long COVID, and they can range from mild to severely disabling. These symptoms might appear after the initial illness has passed or linger from the original infection. Some of the most common ones include:

• Extreme fatigue
• Muscle or joint pain
• Trouble breathing
• Headaches
• Difficulty thinking or concentrating ("brain fog")
• Changes in taste or smell

How Does Long COVID Affect Periods?

Research from the University of Edinburgh found that women with long COVID are more likely to experience heavier, longer periods and bleeding between cycles. The study also showed that the severity of long COVID symptoms, such as fatigue and brain fog, can worsen during the menstrual period.

This two-way relationship suggests that while long COVID can affect periods, hormonal fluctuations throughout the menstrual cycle can also impact the severity of the illness. Experts explain that these findings may pave the way for treatments specifically for women with long COVID who experience menstrual issues, and potentially for long COVID itself.

Who Is At More Risk for Long COVID?

According to WHO, Anyone who has had COVID-19 can develop long COVID, but some people are more likely to get it than others. The risk is higher for:

• Women
• Older adults
• Smokers
• People who are overweight or obese
• Individuals with other chronic health problems

It needs to be noted that if somebody was severely sick with COVID-19, needed to be hospitalized, or had repeated infections is also at risk for long COVID.

People with disabilities or those who have limited access to healthcare also are prone to getting long COVID.

Why Periods May Be More Affected After COVID

Preliminary tests on a small group of women with long COVID revealed hormonal changes and inflammation of the uterine lining. Both of these factors are known to contribute to heavier periods. A key finding, however, was that long COVID does not appear to harm the function of the ovaries.

The link between inflammation and heavy periods is also supported by Dr. Viki Male, a reproductive immunologist at Imperial College London. She suggests that anti-inflammatory drugs, which are already used to treat heavy periods, could be a potential treatment for those with long COVID-related menstrual issues.

Heavy and prolonged periods can put women at a higher risk of iron deficiency. This is a significant concern because many of the symptoms of iron deficiency, such as fatigue, shortness of breath, and dizziness, are also common symptoms of long COVID. The combination of both conditions can be particularly debilitating, as Dr. Maybin notes, making it difficult for women to function.