Why is February Heart Month?

Answer 1

February is usually the peak month for flu cases and for heart attacks. Foster ED et al 2013 showed the risk of flu associated heart attacks increased with increasing age. Viruses induce an endogenous foamy retrovirus called HERV-K102 which creates foamy macrophages (see Laderoute MP et al, 2007) in which the particles are believed to protect against viruses and tumors. In normal adults the cells lyse releasing the particles, but in immunosuppressed individuals (such as associated with stress and/or aging) lysis is blocked. This results in the establishment of chronic diseases, such as Heart disease. The lingering of the foamy macrophages are known to be involved in the initiation and progression of atherosclerosis (see Falk E, et al, 2013 and Schrestha S et al, 2014) but it was thought this was due to high cholesterol. The new view is that foamy macrophages result from HERV-K102 particle production where the particles bud into vacuoles creating foamy cells. For more information on Why is February Heart Month, an opinion piece on the subject is available from Dr. Marian Laderoute.