It could be causing blood to flow backwards in your heart, creating pressure.
You might think of heart trouble as striking someone because it runs in their family. Or they could seem to live an unhealthy lifestyle, and be putting on excessive weight. These factors could contribute to someone developing heart problems, but apparently, they can also target you in another, unexpected way.
Researchers from the University of British Columbia say that certain antibiotics could be the culprit.
A study published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology found that patients who use fluoroquinolone antibiotics, also called Ciprofloxacin or Cipro, face a 2.4 times greater risk of developing aortic and mitral regurgitation, when compared with other antibiotics such as amoxicillin.
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Aortic regurgitation happens when the heart’s aortic valve doesn’t close tightly, leading to leakage. What is mitral regurgitation? It happens when your blood backflows into your heart, leaking through a mitral valve when the left ventricle contracts. So, both conditions are similar.
The trouble is, doctors often favor the kind of antibiotics that can lead to these, over others. Researchers involved in the study said this is because the antibiotics are absorbed well by your body, and can be highly effective. They are also easy for patients to take, with just one pill a day needed.
Researchers say they are hoping this study helps to inform the general public and physicians about the complications possibly associated with fluoroquinolone antibiotics.
For the full study, click here.
