Removal of tonsils and appendix 'could increase heart risk'
Wednesday 1st June 2011
People who have their tonsils and appendix removed while young could be at a higher risk of suffering a heart attack later in life, research has shown.
The surgical removal of the tonsils before the age of 20 was associated with a 44 per cent increase in heart attack risk, while an early appendectomy saw a 33 per cent higher chance of heart attack, according to the study published online in the European Heart Journal.
It is believed that removal could have a long-term impact on the immune system and risk for some autoimmune disorders.
Investigator Dr Imre Janszky, of the Karolinska Institute in Stockholm, said: "In the light of our current knowledge on the complex relationship between atherosclerosis and the immune system, the findings are biologically plausible."
Meanwhile a study has revealed that removing large tonsils and adenoids could help to prevent higher blood pressure and heart damage in children with obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA), according to research presented at the American Thoracic Society 2011International Conference in Denver.
Written by Angela Newbury
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