Having allergies or asthma may increase heart disease risk: Study

Atlanta: Having a history of Asthma or allergies may increase the risk of developing high blood pressure and coronary heart diseases, a new research found.

Adults between the ages of 18 and 57 who have suffered from an allergic disorder had a higher risk of high blood pressure, according to the research, while the highest risk for high blood pressure was found among people with asthma, researchers said.

High blood pressure and cholesterol, along with a lack of exercise, obesity, diabetes, smoking and a family history of cardiovascular issues, are all key contributors to heart disease, according to the US Centre for Disease Control and Prevention.

Based on their findings, researcher encouraged clinicians to add a cardiovascular risk assessment to clinical examinations of people with asthma and allergies.

"For patients with allergic disorders, routine evaluation of blood pressure and routine examination for coronary heart disease should be given by clinicians to ensure early treatments are given to those with hypertension or coronary heart disease," said lead study author Yang Guo, a postdoctoral researcher at Peking University Shenzhen Hospital in China.

While prior research has shown a connection between having allergies and an increased risk of cardiovascular disease, "the question is why?" said pulmonologist Dr. Raj Dasgupta, an assistant professor of clinical medicine at the Keck School of Medicine at the University of Southern California.

"We can't really show causality, but science does show it's connected to pro-inflammatory mediators, things that trigger inflammation in the body," said Dasputa, who was not involved in the study.

Histamines, for example, boost blood flow into the area the allergen attacks, which causes the immune system to send antibodies, thus triggering inflammation. That's why many allergy medications are antihistamines, designed to counter that inflammatory response.

Although inflammation is the body's way of fighting pathogens, an overactive or long-lasting response is an underlying factor in many chronic diseases, including diabetes, high blood pressure and heart disease.

Other medications can also have a negative effect on the cardiovascular system, including steroids often prescribed for asthma attacks and emergencies, the CNN news reported.