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Water and arteriosclerosis.

¹Methodist Hospital, Madison, Wisconsin 53703.

Medical Hypotheses

|September 1, 1987

Summary

This summary is machine-generated.

Hard water consumption may protect against arteriosclerotic diseases, a phenomenon known as the "hard water effect." However, a new theory suggests arteriosclerosis might be an infectious disease, offering an alternative explanation.

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Area of Science:

Cardiovascular epidemiology
Environmental health
Microbiology

Background:

Epidemiologic studies suggest a protective effect of hard water consumption against arteriosclerotic diseases.
The
hard water effect
is considered valid enough to influence public water supply policies.
Arteriosclerosis is increasingly viewed as a chronic infectious process.

Purpose of the Study:

To review the existing evidence on the relationship between hard water and arteriosclerosis.
To identify contradictions and exceptions to the
hard water effect
.
To propose an alternative theory for arteriosclerosis based on microbial infection.

Main Methods:

Related Experiment Videos

Literature review of epidemiologic studies and scientific theories.
Analysis of existing data on water hardness and cardiovascular health.
Theoretical modeling of infectious disease causation for arteriosclerosis.

Main Results:

The
hard water effect
is supported by substantial epidemiologic correlations.
Contradictions and exceptions to this effect were noted.
A novel theory posits arteriosclerosis as a chronic infectious disease caused by cyanobacteria.

Conclusions:

While the
hard water effect
is a recognized phenomenon, it may not be the sole explanation for arteriosclerosis.
An infectious etiology, potentially involving cyanobacteria, offers a plausible alternative or complementary explanation.
Further research is needed to elucidate the role of microbial agents in arteriosclerosis.