H. pylori and Atrial Fibrillation
In the last number of years, studies have confirmed that the bacteria Helicobacter pylori, which is linked to a host of gastrointestinal ailments, including gastritis, ulcer, and stomach cancer, has been linked to the heart as well. Atrial Fibrillation (AF), an abnormal heart rhythm, may cause palpitations, chest pain, and congestive heart failure; it is also a leading cause of stroke.
Researchers from the Mayo Clinic looked at the connection between AF and H. pylori in a study published in 2008. It was determined that younger patients testing positive for H. pylori had an increased risk of AF compared to patients who were not infected. Older patients with an active infection also had an increased risk, albeit smaller when compared to those who were H. pylori negative.
In an earlier study, published in the July 2005 issue of Heart, researchers from Italy looked at the relationship between H. pylori and chronic inflammation that resulted in AF. These clinicians had long observed that many patients with AF also had gastric complaints. They soon realized that H. pylori and AF were highly associated, and their small study shows a significant correlation between H. pylori and AF: Their patients with atrial fibrillation were about 20 times more likely to test positive for H pylori than other patients.
While more studies will need to look at how H. pylori influences the development of AF, it is important to know that if you suspect you have H. pylori, the noninvasive BreathID 13C-urea breath test can detect it. If you believe you may have an H. pylori infection, speak to your doctor. Once diagnosed, an effective course of antibiotic treatment can begin.
For more information about how the BreathID breath test system is used to detect H. pylori at the point-of-care, please watch a short film on Urea Breath Tests or contact a company representative by completing the contact form.