By DR. SELENA SEABROOKS
The Dallas Examiner
Heart disease is the leading cause of death in United States and disproportionately affects the African American community. Blacks are 30% more likely to die from heart disease and 50% to 70% more likely to develop congestive heart failure than their White counterparts, according to the American Heart Association.
“Heart failure is more likely to affect Black, African American and Afro-Caribbean communities than other racial or ethnic groups,” stated Oluyemi Badero, MD, invasive and interventional cardiologist.
Another type of heart disease is Transthyretin Amyloid Cardiomyopathy – often referred to as ATTR-CM. It is a serious health condition that causes heart failure and is often missed in the Black, African American and Afro-Caribbean communities.
In an effort to raise awareness about ATTR-CM, the 100 Black Men of America of Greater Dallas/Fort Worth – a mentorship and empowerment program for young Black males – hosted Pfizer’s Voices for the Heart webinar. The event was facilitated by James Carlisle, MD, chair of Health and Wellness for the 100 Black Men, as well as the founder and medical director of Omega Rehabilitation and Spine.
The discussion was led by Badero, invasive and interventional cardiologist, who opened with a discussion on heart failure. He defined heart failure as a heart disease where the heart becomes weak, damaged or stiff. As a result, the heart does not pump blood as well as it should. Heart failure worsens over time.
Symptoms of heart failure may include feeling very tired, weak or fatigued; shortness of breath; irregular heartbeat or cardiac arrhythmia; and swelling in the legs, ankles or feet (peripheral edema). It is usually caused by another health condition like a heart attack, high blood pressure or ATTR-CM.
What happens inside the body when you have ATTR-CM?
The Transthyretin – known as TTR – protein in the human body carries other substances through the bloodstream. TTR works well when it is neatly folded. But, in some people, TTR can become unstable, misfolded and tangled together. The tangled TTR proteins travel through the body and build up in different parts of the body, which can cause problems. In the heart, the tangled TTR proteins cause the muscle walls to stiffen and thicken over time, resulting in the heart not pumping blood as well as it should. Eventually, this can lead to heart failure.
Badero explained that ATTR-CM affects the heart and can cause the symptoms of heart failure. Other symptoms of ATTR-CM include ruptured or torn tendons; stomach or gut issues; pain or numbness in the lower back or legs; eye problems (such as glaucoma); numbness, tingling or pain in both hands or fingers; joint pain; and numbness, tingling or pain in the toes or feet.
Types of ATTR-CM
There are two types of ATTR-CM, wild-type and hereditary.
Wild-type ATTR-CM it is associated with age and primarily affects White men over 60. Hereditary ATTR-CM is found in both men and women, can show up between the ages of 50 to 60 and is passed down through relatives.
“Of these two types, hereditary ATTR-CM is more likely to affect Black, African American and Afro-Caribbean communities,” Badero explained.
A change in the TTR gene causes hereditary ATTR-CM.
“One of the gene changes linked to ATTR-CM is most often found in African American families,” he added.
The gene change is called the V122I mutation, which affects 3 to 4% of African Americans. This mutation can be inherited and passed down through relatives. But, not everyone with this mutation will develop ATTR-CM.
Seeking medical help
Early diagnosis of ATTR-CM is essential.
Badero urged people to speak with their doctor if they have had heart failure and other seemingly unrelated symptoms. He mentioned additional red flags for ATTR-CM in people with heart failure, which included losing weight for no known reason, feeling lightheaded when standing up and feeling worse after taking heart or blood pressure medications.
Before closing, former NBA player and coach Don Chaney joined the discussion, offering a view of his personal experience. Chaney was diagnosed with hereditary ATTR-CM in 2019. He explained that before he was diagnosed, he experienced palpitations and shortness of breath. Also, his mother and grandmother died of heart disease.
“I underwent several tests and procedures to figure out what was going on, which is how I was diagnosed with heart failure. What my cardiologist and I did not know yet, was that I actually had this rare heart condition, ATTR-CM,” Chaney said.
He explained that he also suffered from carpal tunnel for 10 years before being diagnosed, along with knee pain and swelling in his knees and feet, which he initially assumed were from his years of playing professional basketball.
“I never made the connection that these symptoms could have something to do with my heart. So, when I started having heart problems, I never mentioned part of my medical history to my cardiologist,” he stated.
Chaney expressed that he was surprised when he was first diagnosed with ATTR-CM.
“I was living a healthy, active lifestyle and always received a good bill of health when it came to my heart. I didn’t know that genes passed down from relatives could cause ATTR-CM,” he said. “It’s very important for members of Black, African American and Afro-Caribbean communities to have a heart-to-heart with their doctor. This is even more important if you have heart failure, a family history of cardiac issues, or any unsolved symptoms.”
About 3% or 4% of African Americans carry a mutation in the TTR gene – known as V122I – that makes it more likely that they may develop ATTR-CM, however not all carriers develop the disease. ATTR-CM gets worse over time, which is why early diagnosis and management are so important. However, getting diagnosed with ATTR-CM can often take years, according to Pfizer, who has led the effort to spread awareness.
“As a cardiologist, who has been treating heart disease for eight years, I’ve witnessed how delayed visits can impact care within our community. It is always upsetting when patients come to my office with advanced heart disease that potentially could have been diagnosed and treated earlier,” Dr. Aaron Horne, MD, structural and interventional cardiologist at Summit Health, explained in a press release.
As a consultant on Pfizer’s Voices for the Heart program, he has been working in collaboration with Chaney to spread awareness about ATTR-CM.
“Family members and caregivers also have an important role to play because they sometimes notice or remember health symptoms that the patient may forget or neglect to mention and help people with hereditary ATTR-CM manage their disease,” he concluded.
To learn more about ATTR-CM and to find resources, visit https://www.yourheartsmessage.com.
By DR. SELENA SEABROOKS
The Dallas Examiner
Heart disease is the leading cause of death in United States and disproportionately affects the African American community. Blacks are 30% more likely to die from heart disease and 50% to 70% more likely to develop congestive heart failure than their White counterparts, according to the American Heart Association.
“Heart failure is more likely to affect Black, African American and Afro-Caribbean communities than other racial or ethnic groups,” stated Oluyemi Badero, MD, invasive and interventional cardiologist.
Another type of heart disease is Transthyretin Amyloid Cardiomyopathy – often referred to as ATTR-CM. It is a serious health condition that causes heart failure and is often missed in the Black, African American and Afro-Caribbean communities.
In an effort to raise awareness about ATTR-CM, the 100 Black Men of America of Greater Dallas/Fort Worth – a mentorship and empowerment program for young Black males – hosted Pfizer’s Voices for the Heart webinar. The event was facilitated by James Carlisle, MD, chair of Health and Wellness for the 100 Black Men, as well as the founder and medical director of Omega Rehabilitation and Spine.
The discussion was led by Badero, invasive and interventional cardiologist, who opened with a discussion on heart failure. He defined heart failure as a heart disease where the heart becomes weak, damaged or stiff. As a result, the heart does not pump blood as well as it should. Heart failure worsens over time.
Symptoms of heart failure may include feeling very tired, weak or fatigued; shortness of breath; irregular heartbeat or cardiac arrhythmia; and swelling in the legs, ankles or feet (peripheral edema). It is usually caused by another health condition like a heart attack, high blood pressure or ATTR-CM.
What happens inside the body when you have ATTR-CM?
The Transthyretin – known as TTR – protein in the human body carries other substances through the bloodstream. TTR works well when it is neatly folded. But, in some people, TTR can become unstable, misfolded and tangled together. The tangled TTR proteins travel through the body and build up in different parts of the body, which can cause problems. In the heart, the tangled TTR proteins cause the muscle walls to stiffen and thicken over time, resulting in the heart not pumping blood as well as it should. Eventually, this can lead to heart failure.
Badero explained that ATTR-CM affects the heart and can cause the symptoms of heart failure. Other symptoms of ATTR-CM include ruptured or torn tendons; stomach or gut issues; pain or numbness in the lower back or legs; eye problems (such as glaucoma); numbness, tingling or pain in both hands or fingers; joint pain; and numbness, tingling or pain in the toes or feet.
Types of ATTR-CM
There are two types of ATTR-CM, wild-type and hereditary.
Wild-type ATTR-CM it is associated with age and primarily affects White men over 60. Hereditary ATTR-CM is found in both men and women, can show up between the ages of 50 to 60 and is passed down through relatives.
“Of these two types, hereditary ATTR-CM is more likely to affect Black, African American and Afro-Caribbean communities,” Badero explained.
A change in the TTR gene causes hereditary ATTR-CM.
“One of the gene changes linked to ATTR-CM is most often found in African American families,” he added.
The gene change is called the V122I mutation, which affects 3 to 4% of African Americans. This mutation can be inherited and passed down through relatives. But, not everyone with this mutation will develop ATTR-CM.
Seeking medical help
Early diagnosis of ATTR-CM is essential.
Badero urged people to speak with their doctor if they have had heart failure and other seemingly unrelated symptoms. He mentioned additional red flags for ATTR-CM in people with heart failure, which included losing weight for no known reason, feeling lightheaded when standing up and feeling worse after taking heart or blood pressure medications.
Before closing, former NBA player and coach Don Chaney joined the discussion, offering a view of his personal experience. Chaney was diagnosed with hereditary ATTR-CM in 2019. He explained that before he was diagnosed, he experienced palpitations and shortness of breath. Also, his mother and grandmother died of heart disease.
“I underwent several tests and procedures to figure out what was going on, which is how I was diagnosed with heart failure. What my cardiologist and I did not know yet, was that I actually had this rare heart condition, ATTR-CM,” Chaney said.
He explained that he also suffered from carpal tunnel for 10 years before being diagnosed, along with knee pain and swelling in his knees and feet, which he initially assumed were from his years of playing professional basketball.
“I never made the connection that these symptoms could have something to do with my heart. So, when I started having heart problems, I never mentioned part of my medical history to my cardiologist,” he stated.
Chaney expressed that he was surprised when he was first diagnosed with ATTR-CM.
“I was living a healthy, active lifestyle and always received a good bill of health when it came to my heart. I didn’t know that genes passed down from relatives could cause ATTR-CM,” he said. “It’s very important for members of Black, African American and Afro-Caribbean communities to have a heart-to-heart with their doctor. This is even more important if you have heart failure, a family history of cardiac issues, or any unsolved symptoms.”
About 3% or 4% of African Americans carry a mutation in the TTR gene – known as V122I – that makes it more likely that they may develop ATTR-CM, however not all carriers develop the disease. ATTR-CM gets worse over time, which is why early diagnosis and management are so important. However, getting diagnosed with ATTR-CM can often take years, according to Pfizer, who has led the effort to spread awareness.
“As a cardiologist, who has been treating heart disease for eight years, I’ve witnessed how delayed visits can impact care within our community. It is always upsetting when patients come to my office with advanced heart disease that potentially could have been diagnosed and treated earlier,” Dr. Aaron Horne, MD, structural and interventional cardiologist at Summit Health, explained in a press release.
As a consultant on Pfizer’s Voices for the Heart program, he has been working in collaboration with Chaney to spread awareness about ATTR-CM.
“Family members and caregivers also have an important role to play because they sometimes notice or remember health symptoms that the patient may forget or neglect to mention and help people with hereditary ATTR-CM manage their disease,” he concluded.
To learn more about ATTR-CM and to find resources, visit https://www.yourheartsmessage.com.