The effect of geomagnetic activity on cardiovascular parameters

Multidirectional changes in the natural history of many cardiovascular syndromes have been linked to different levels of daily and monthly geomagnetic activity (GMA). Previous studies have found that in periods of high GMA there were more admissions for acute myocardial infarction and more cases of anterior wall myocardial infarction. Results also indicated: higher outpatient mortality and a trend towards higher hospital mortality from acute myocardial infarction; higher diastolic arterial pressure in healthy subjects and in treated hypertensive patients; higher prolactin and 17-corticosteroid levels in the peripheral blood; more severe migraine attacks and more admissions for CVA and cerebrovascular insufficiency in male patients; changes in many blood coagulation cellular gradients (platelet count, basophils in the peripheral blood), a rise in platelet aggregation, fibrinogen level and a drop in leukocyte adhesiveness. Periods of low GMA showed a related increase (negative correlation) in in-hospital non-myocardial infarction-related cardiovascular deaths. Only in times of lowest GMA did inferior wall myocardial infarction exceed anterior wall myocardial infarction. Low GMA was also associated with higher levels of growth hormone and 11-ketosteroids in the peripheral blood, more sudden deaths, some increase in electrical heart instability/hourly number of ventricular and supraventricular extrasystoles and higher rate of ventricular tachycardia. The monthly occurrence of pregnancy-induced hypertension was negatively correlated with GMA level. Gender differences were noted in some of the parameters. Other studied parameters did not show changes related to GMA. These included haemoglobin level, electrolyte level, heart beat and pulse rate. Moreover, some observed cardiovascular fluctuations that were related to the level of GMA also showed differences in the rising and dropping parts of the 11-year cycle of solar activity. It has been suggested that some of the changes observed in many clinical syndromes may be related to the concomitant activation of the serotoninergic system. J Clin Basic Cardiol 1999; 2: 34–40.