From Your Gut to Your Heart: The Surprising Role of Exercise in Cardiac Recovery

Background:

The gut microbiome plays a crucial role in maintaining human health by interacting with host metabolism, immune function, and disease states. The diverse microbial communities within our gut not only contribute to digestion and nutrient absorption but also produce various metabolites (small molecules created when the body breaks down food and other substances) that influence overall health of the body. Who knew that a heart-healthy life might start with some gutsy friends in our microbiome? As exercise continues to grow in popularity as part of a healthy lifestyle, interest is also growing in understanding how it affects health beyond fitness.

Recent studies have examined how exercise impacts the gut microbiome (Lambert et al., 2015; Motiani et al., 2020) as well as how these microbiome changes may influence cardiovascular health, showing that exercise can modify gut microbiota composition and potentially offer protective effects against cardiovascular conditions (Longoria et al., 2022; Zhou et al., 2022). Understanding the mechanisms behind these relationships could lead to new therapeutic approaches aimed at treating cardiovascular health complications.

November 4, 2024

Heart Health in Your Gut: How the Microbiome Affects Cardiovascular Disease

When we think about heart health, the gut probably isn’t the first thing that comes to mind. However, new research is shedding light on how the trillions of microorganisms living in our digestive tract—collectively known as the gut microbiome—may play a surprising role in cardiovascular disease (Zhang, Y. et al., 2022).

Cardiovascular Disease: The World’s Deadliest Threat

Cardiovascular disease (CVD), is an umbrella term for conditions affecting the heart and blood vessels, including coronary artery disease (CAD), stroke and high blood pressure. These conditions are the leading cause of death worldwide, with heart attack and stroke being responsible for 85% of these deaths (World Health Organization, 2021). While many factors contribute to CVD, including diet, lifestyle, and genetics, scientists are discovering that the composition of our gut microbiome might also be a key player (Zhang, Y. et al., 2022).

October 31, 2024

Allies or Adversaries in Health: The Role of Viruses in the Human Microbiome

Background

Coronary Heart Disease

Coronary heart disease is a major contributor to cardiovascular disease, one of the leading causes of death worldwide (Li et al., 2024). Risk factors for Coronary heart disease include a high-fat diet, smoking, alcohol abuse, and lack of physical activity. Atherosclerosis, involving the buildup of fatty deposits in arteries, is the primary cause of Coronary heart disease (Picture 1). Emerging research suggests that the gut microbiome, consisting of bacteria, viruses, and fungi, may influence cardiovascular health by affecting inflammation and lipid metabolism, both of which contribute to atherosclerosis. However, the precise mechanisms behind this relationship are still being investigated.