The influence of Earth‘s magnetic field on cardiovascular diseases

Jorūnė Jurjonaitė1, Laurita Jasiūnaitė1, Dorina Buliauskaitė1 

1Lithuanian University of Health Sciences. Academy of Medicine. Faculty of Medicine

Abstract 

There is a rising tendency of morbidity of cardiovascular diseases. These diseases are also associated with the highest risk of mortality in the wolrd. On purpose of increasing the scope of prevention, people tend to pay more attention to physical surroundings‘ impact on cardiovacular diseases development. One of the main factors is the effect of changes of geomagnetic field. The scientists of various different countries are trying to find connections between Earth‘s magnetic field data and the most common cardiovascular diseases. A few scientific experiments and researches have proven that magnetic field has an effect on the processes in cells and organ systems. It was found that metabolic activity, proliferation and differentiation of cell were increased, also the amount of  intracellular calcium ions was elevated, and the oxidative stress processes were suppressed. There was observed the relation between the various blood parameters and geomagnetic field strength. Also the increased magnetic field intensity activates microcirculation, increases heart rate, blood pressure and autonomic nervous system. During the active geomagnetic field periods there is an increased hospitalization of patients with acute myocardial infarction, as well as increased pre-hospitalization mortality because of this pathology. This effect is more susceptible among older patients and women. In addition, it was excluded that higher frequency geomagnetic field periods are linked to higher morbidity of acute coronary syndrome. Searching for reasons of high blood pressure, there was found a significant increase of arterial and diastolic blood pressure during the periods of high geomagnetic activity. Researchers also notice the bond between low frequency magnetic field of Earth activity and increased cases of acute atrial fibrillation. On the contrary magnetism of the Sun provokes supraventricular and ventricular arrhythmia. It was determined that low frequency geomagnetic field activity periods are connected with increased number of arrhythmia. On the other hand during the high frequency activity periods the cases of arrhythmia are rarer. Therefore the effect of geomagnetic field to myocardial infarction and atrial fibrillation is linked to different range of frequency. Discussed studies show us the undoubted effect of magnetic field of Earth to the most common cardiovascular diseases. The geomagnetic storms are connected with higher risk of acute myocardial infarction, hypertension and acute atrial fibrillation. If we would be able to monitor the daily changes of geomagnetic parameters, we could predict outbreaks of the diseases and apply the prevention more efficiently.

Keywords: myocardial infarction, hypertension, arrhythmia, atrial fibrillation, geomagnetic field