Heart damage may boost defenses

"The damage caused by heart disease may make the organ cope better with the dangers of surgery,say researchers."

Mice with symptoms of heart disease were found to be more resistant to the damage caused by cardiac surgery which involves stopping the heart itself.Writting in critical care Medicine,researchers believe by underestanding the exact chemical reaction they may be able to replicate this with drugs,The prinston university team hopes to boost the odds for all heart heart patients.Almost 30,000 patients a year undergo coronary artery bypass operations which help replace sections of artery left dangerously narrowed by heart disease.The heart is stopped during the operation,and may suffer some damage to its tissue as a result.The study suggests that the pressure of living with heart disease may actually increase the chances of being able to minimize this damage.