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Does asthma raise heart attack risk after 40?

This Premium Q&A, reviewed and published, features a real conversation between an iCliniq user and a physician.

Patient's Query

Hello doctor,

I am 47 years old, and I am a military veteran who has chronic asthma due to lead and asbestos exposure while working in the shipyards. I also have heart disease and hypertension. I had my heart attack when I was 32. I read that people with asthma are 60 percent more likely to have a heart-related event, like a heart attack. I believe asthma and heart issues are related. I want to reach out to you for your opinion.

Please help.

Thank you.
Answered by Dr. Ahmed Mohamed Mahmoud Goha

Education:

MBBS

Professional Bio:

Dr.Ahmed Mohamed Mahmoud Goha is a Cardiologist with 28 years of clinical experience. He completed his Cardiology and Cardiac Imaging Consultant in September 2019 Egypt-Air Hospital, Cairo, Egypt. He has worked in the following places- Clinical Cardiac Imaging Fellow (July 2014 to June 2019); In the Nuclear Medicine Division of the Medical Imaging Department, Western University, London, Ontario, Canada; As a Tele-Cardiologist (June 2010 – Present) in Caribbean Heart Institute, Jamaica; As a Senior Cardiology Specialist or Consultant Director of Cardiac CT unit (2003- 2014) in Aero- Medical council and Egypt air hospital; As a Cardiology specialist or Consultant (2002 –2014) in Saint Rita hospital, Cairo, Egypt; As a Cardiology specialist (July 2000 – July 2002) in Cardiology department of Defense industry medical Centre (DIMC), Cairo, Egypt; As a Cardiology Resident or Registrar (March 1996 – June 2000) in Cardiology Department of Kobry Elkobba Military Hospital, Cairo, Egypt. In addition, he did a Rotating Internship (Feb 1995 – Feb 1996) in the Faculty Of Medicine at Ain Shams University Hospitals, Cairo, Egypt.

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Hello,

Welcome to icliniq.com.

I understand your concern.

There is a connection between chest problems and heart-lung diseases that may lead to elevated pulmonary pressure with right ventricular overload and dysfunction. The major cause of coronary artery narrowing, which causes a heart attack, is coronary atherosclerosis, likely due to genetic predisposition and increased incidence with risk factors such as smoking, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, and increased lipid profile.

I hope this helps.

Kindly follow up if you have more concerns.

Thank you.

Patient's Query

Hello doctor,

There is no genetic predisposition or smoking. I first experienced hypertension while in the service around the same time as I was working in the shipyards on board a ship that contained lead-based paints. I was in direct contact with these areas. Hypertension continued after the service, and I eventually had a heart attack, three stents, and now have a loop monitor as well. I was able to show a correlation between lead and asbestos exposure and asthma, but I believe my heart issues are part of it as well.

Please help.

Thank you.

Answered by Dr. Ahmed Mohamed Mahmoud Goha

Education:

MBBS

Professional Bio:

Dr.Ahmed Mohamed Mahmoud Goha is a Cardiologist with 28 years of clinical experience. He completed his Cardiology and Cardiac Imaging Consultant in September 2019 Egypt-Air Hospital, Cairo, Egypt. He has worked in the following places- Clinical Cardiac Imaging Fellow (July 2014 to June 2019); In the Nuclear Medicine Division of the Medical Imaging Department, Western University, London, Ontario, Canada; As a Tele-Cardiologist (June 2010 – Present) in Caribbean Heart Institute, Jamaica; As a Senior Cardiology Specialist or Consultant Director of Cardiac CT unit (2003- 2014) in Aero- Medical council and Egypt air hospital; As a Cardiology specialist or Consultant (2002 –2014) in Saint Rita hospital, Cairo, Egypt; As a Cardiology specialist (July 2000 – July 2002) in Cardiology department of Defense industry medical Centre (DIMC), Cairo, Egypt; As a Cardiology Resident or Registrar (March 1996 – June 2000) in Cardiology Department of Kobry Elkobba Military Hospital, Cairo, Egypt. In addition, he did a Rotating Internship (Feb 1995 – Feb 1996) in the Faculty Of Medicine at Ain Shams University Hospitals, Cairo, Egypt.

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Hello,

Welcome back to icliniq.com.

I can understand your concern.

Some studies showed that asbestos and lead exposure are associated with cardiovascular disease, heart attack, and stroke. The definite cause is unknown, but it is likely the inflammatory response that induces endothelial dysfunction. It is the same for bronchial asthma and coronary artery disease, with increased inflammatory mediators, which induce blood vessel endothelial dysfunction and heart attack, which is a different pathway than the traditional atherosclerotic pathway.

I hope this helps.

Please follow up if you have any further concerns.

Thank you.

Medically reviewed by Dr. Sneha Kannan
Published At April 13, 2021
Reviewed At February 27, 2026

Education:

MBBS

Professional Bio:

Dr.Ahmed Mohamed Mahmoud Goha is a Cardiologist with 28 years of clinical experience. He completed his Cardiology and Cardiac Imaging Consultant in September 2019 Egypt-Air Hospital, Cairo, Egypt. He has worked in the following places- Clinical Cardiac Imaging Fellow (July 2014 to June 2019); In the Nuclear Medicine Division of the Medical Imaging Department, Western University, London, Ontario, Canada; As a Tele-Cardiologist (June 2010 – Present) in Caribbean Heart Institute, Jamaica; As a Senior Cardiology Specialist or Consultant Director of Cardiac CT unit (2003- 2014) in Aero- Medical council and Egypt air hospital; As a Cardiology specialist or Consultant (2002 –2014) in Saint Rita hospital, Cairo, Egypt; As a Cardiology specialist (July 2000 – July 2002) in Cardiology department of Defense industry medical Centre (DIMC), Cairo, Egypt; As a Cardiology Resident or Registrar (March 1996 – June 2000) in Cardiology Department of Kobry Elkobba Military Hospital, Cairo, Egypt. In addition, he did a Rotating Internship (Feb 1995 – Feb 1996) in the Faculty Of Medicine at Ain Shams University Hospitals, Cairo, Egypt.

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Education:

BDS

Professional Bio:

Dr. Sneha Kannan is a skilled Dental Surgeon with expertise in providing general dental care, including scaling, fillings, and preventive treatments. She does oral surgery procedures such as extractions and minor surgical interventions. She does procedures in restorative dentistry, including crowns, bridges, and dentures. She is an expert in doing endodontic treatments such as root canal therapy. She is well-versed in doing procedures in cosmetic dentistry, including teeth whitening and smile correction. She can provide pediatric dental care for children’s oral health and preventive treatments. She promotes oral hygiene awareness and preventive dental practices.  

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Dr. Ahmed Mohamed Mahmoud Goha

Cardiology

Education:

MBBS

Professional Bio:

Dr.Ahmed Mohamed Mahmoud Goha is a Cardiologist with 28 years of clinical experience. He completed his Cardiology and Cardiac Imaging Consultant in September 2019 Egypt-Air Hospital, Cairo, Egypt. He has worked in the following places- Clinical Cardiac Imaging Fellow (July 2014 to June 2019); In the Nuclear Medicine Division of the Medical Imaging Department, Western University, London, Ontario, Canada; As a Tele-Cardiologist (June 2010 – Present) in Caribbean Heart Institute, Jamaica; As a Senior Cardiology Specialist or Consultant Director of Cardiac CT unit (2003- 2014) in Aero- Medical council and Egypt air hospital; As a Cardiology specialist or Consultant (2002 –2014) in Saint Rita hospital, Cairo, Egypt; As a Cardiology specialist (July 2000 – July 2002) in Cardiology department of Defense industry medical Centre (DIMC), Cairo, Egypt; As a Cardiology Resident or Registrar (March 1996 – June 2000) in Cardiology Department of Kobry Elkobba Military Hospital, Cairo, Egypt. In addition, he did a Rotating Internship (Feb 1995 – Feb 1996) in the Faculty Of Medicine at Ain Shams University Hospitals, Cairo, Egypt.

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