From Infections to Heart Failure: The Unexpected Link

Story at-a-glance Heart failure affects 6.7 million Americans over the age of 20, and this number is expected to reach 8.5 million by 2030. Globally, it impacts over 37 million people as a life-threatening condition People who are hospitalized for severe infections like pneumonia or sepsis are more than twice as likely to develop heart failure Infections trigger an aggressive immune response that have a chance to become dysregulated, causing persistent inflammation and damage to the heart muscle's ability to pump efficiently The risk of heart failure persists long-term, with most cases appearing about seven years after the initial infection-related hospitalization Vitamin D produces antimicrobial peptides that protect against bacteria, fungi and viruses that cause severe infections, so make sure to optimize your levels through safe sun exposure