Is it possible for cancer patients to experience a heart attack?
Cancer patients often require regular appointments with cardio-oncologists or cardiologists to assess heart health, as some cancer treatments can have adverse effects on the cardiovascular system. This is crucial, as discussions about the risks and benefits of various cancer treatments are essential, as some treatments are less damaging to the heart than others.
The risk factors for heart disease in cancer patients are similar to those in the general population and include shared modifiable lifestyle factors such as tobacco use, obesity, sedentary lifestyle, poor diet, and excessive alcohol intake. Additionally, cancer-related inflammation, comorbidities like hypertension, diabetes, and a history of coronary or peripheral artery disease, and the iatrogenic effects of cancer treatments—notably chemotherapy and radiation therapy—further increase cardiovascular risk.
Common symptoms of heart disease in cancer patients align with symptoms typical of cardiovascular disease in general and may include chest pain or discomfort, shortness of breath, fatigue and reduced exercise tolerance, palpitations or irregular heartbeat, signs of heart failure such as swelling in legs or rapid weight gain, and other possible manifestations from cancer treatments like pericarditis, cardiomyopathies, and valvular heart disease.
Close monitoring by healthcare teams during and after cancer treatment is important to detect early cardiovascular effects, and lifestyle modifications can help reduce heart disease risks. Patients are encouraged to balance cancer treatment benefits with cardiovascular risk management, such as quitting smoking, remaining physically active, and eating a balanced, healthy diet.
The odds of having a heart attack are higher at every stage of cancer, from diagnosis through survivorship. Symptoms to look for include chest pain, shortness of breath, nausea or heartburn, and tightening in the chest. Lifestyle changes and changing medications may help reduce a person's risk of a heart attack, but they cannot eliminate it entirely.
Certain cancer medications can increase the risk of a blood clot, and cancer therapies, especially chemotherapy, may directly damage the heart. People with chest pain, shortness of breath, or other emergency symptoms should call 911 or go to the emergency room immediately.
A person can have heart disease without symptoms, and the symptoms of cancer-related heart disease are not distinct from symptoms of other types of heart disease. Blood thinning medications, oxygen therapy, heart procedures and surgeries such as putting a stent in a blood vessel, and bypass surgery are treatment options. A doctor may make cancer treatment decisions based partially on a person's risk of heart disease, heart attacks, and blood clots.
Anyone with chest pain or heart attack symptoms should seek emergency care, especially for people with cancer and cancer survivors. High blood pressure, high cholesterol, or diabetes are risk factors for heart disease. A 2022 study found a 42% overall increase in the risk of cardiovascular disease and a 52% increase in the risk of heart failure among adult cancer survivors. More than 1 in 10 people with cancer in the United States die of cardiovascular disease.
After surgery, it's important to remain mobile to reduce the risk of a blood clot that can travel to the heart or lungs. The risk of a heart attack was highest among those with lung cancer, being 8.3% over 6 months. In a 2017 study, the risk of a heart attack over 6 months was more than double in people with cancer than in people without cancer, at 4.7% compared to 2.2%, respectively.
If a person develops new heart issues, side effects with their cancer treatment, or a new heart disease risk factor, they should contact a doctor. In the 2019 study, 38% of cancer survivors eventually died from their cancer, and another 11.3% died of cardiovascular disease. Cardiovascular disease is an important risk factor for heart attacks, and cancer correlates with a higher risk of cardiovascular disease.
In summary, understanding and managing heart health is a crucial aspect of cancer care. Close monitoring by healthcare teams, lifestyle modifications, and appropriate treatment can help reduce the risk of heart disease in cancer patients.
| Risk Factors | Common Symptoms | |--------------------------------------------------|--------------------------------------------------| | Tobacco use | Chest pain or discomfort | | Obesity and sedentary lifestyle | Shortness of breath | | Poor diet and excessive alcohol intake | Fatigue and exercise intolerance | | Hypertension and diabetes | Palpitations or irregular heartbeat | | History of coronary or peripheral artery disease | Signs of heart failure (swelling, weight gain) | | Cancer-associated inflammation | Symptoms related to cardiomyopathy or pericarditis | | Cancer treatments (chemotherapy, radiation) | Valvular heart disease symptoms |
- Cancer treatments, such as chemotherapy and radiation, can increase the risk of heart disease by directly damaging the heart.
- Common symptoms of heart disease in cancer patients are similar to those in the general population and may include chest pain, shortness of breath, fatigue, and reduced exercise tolerance.
- Discussions about the risks and benefits of various cancer treatments are essential, as some treatments are less damaging to the heart than others.
- High blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes, and a history of heart disease are risk factors for cardiovascular disease in cancer patients.
- A doctor may make cancer treatment decisions based partially on a person's risk of heart disease, heart attacks, and blood clots.
- Lifestyle modifications can help reduce heart disease risks in cancer patients, such as quitting smoking, maintaining a healthy diet, and staying physically active.
- Certain cancer medications can increase the risk of a blood clot, and cancer therapies may contribute to other cardiovascular issues like valvular heart disease.
- Understanding and managing heart health is a crucial aspect of cancer care, and close monitoring by healthcare teams is essential during and after cancer treatment.
