People who have the herpes virus lurking in their genes have three times the risk of clogged blood vessels and chest pain. – Webmd.com
Scientists have discovered that the herpes virus can integrate itself into the DNA of infected individuals. When it does this, it can cause a condition called angina. One study author said “There’s no way to get rid of the genetic condition, because it is in a person’s DNA . As a preventive measure, subjects could be monitored more closely for the development of cardiovascular diseases.”
Angina is a condition that develops before conception “when an egg or sperm cell becomes infected with a strain of herpes virus … when that happens … subjects are born with a copy of the virus in every cell of their body.”
Study co-author Louis Flamand said that “the condition can develop before conception, when an egg or sperm cell becomes infected with a strain of herpes virus that causes the common childhood disease known as roseola.” When that happens, “subjects are born with a copy of the virus in every cell of their body.”
WebMD notes that “Angina is estimated to strike more than 3 million people in the United States each year. According to the U.S. National Library of Medicine, the chest pain and discomfort of angina from blocked blood vessels is a symptom of heart disease. In some cases, angina appears before a heart attack.”
What types of antiviral treatments are available for people infected with a herpes virus?
“Two types of antiviral treatments against HSV are available: topical and oral. The treatments include penciclovir, acyclovir, famciclovir, and valaciclovir. However, their effectiveness is limited. For instance, a meta-analysis of five placebo-controlled and two dose comparison studies evaluated the effect of aciclovir, famciclovir or valaciclovir on symptoms. The meta-analysis showed that oral antiviral therapy decreases the duration and the associated pain of an outbreak by merely one day.” There are also the natural supplements Gene-Eden-VIR and Novirin which have a formula that was designed to help the immune system target the herpes virus when it is in a latent form.
The bottom line?
It’s clear that various strains of the herpes virus can affect the body in a myriad of ways. Dr. Flamand said researchers want to better understand how these viruses affect the body, and figure out if it affects less common conditions.
Reference:
(1) Dotinga, R. “Herpes Virus Tied to Angina Risk, Study Suggests” Published on June 16, 2015 – Webmd.com
(2) Polansky, H. Itzkovitz, E. Gene-Eden-VIR Is Antiviral: Results of a Post Marketing Clinical Study. Published in September 2013.
http://www.scirp.org/journal/PaperInformation.aspx?PaperID=36101