4 ms·
Interesting, I was always under the impression that chipmunks were susceptible to heart attacks. I can't remember where I read it and I can't find a current sou
by cc439 7y ago
Interesting, I was always under the impression that chipmunks were susceptible to heart attacks. I can't remember where I read it and I can't find a current source but you are apparently not supposed to harass chipmunks because they can experience stress induced heart attacks when threatened/chased. I've also seen potential evidence for this when my cat chased one around a parking lot only for it to collapse after sprinting around for a solid minute. It was immobile, looked short of breath and eventually died at some point between when I brought my cat in and the next morning.
- CamperBob2 7y agoRabbits, too. The whole premise behind this headline seems bogus.
- DennisP 7y agoThe headline seems bogus but the article says that "naturally occurring coronary heart attacks due to atherosclerosis are virtually non-existent in other mammals." Atherosclerosis is the cause of only "one-third of deaths worldwide due to cardiovascular disease" so other causes could still apply to other mammals. For example, "chimp heart attacks were due to an as-yet unexplained scarring of the heart muscle." Of course we can give rabbits atherosclerosis by giving them high cholesterol from a diet they don't eat in the wild. But in humans, "in roughly 15 percent of first-time cardiovascular disease events (CVD) due to atherosclerosis, none of these [risk] factors apply," where risk factors include "blood cholesterol, physical inactivity, age, hypertension, obesity and smoking." So the study explores a possible reason for that.
- fpoling 7y agoElephants that live in savannas in Africa are prone to atherosclerosis, while those living in forest areas are not. [1] discusses that it can be due to food. In savanna elephants are forced to feed on grains and dry grass, while in forest they feed on leaves, which is probably more natural. [1] Staffan Lindeberg. Food and Western Disease: Health and Nutrition from an Evolutionary Perspective
- stevewodil 7y agoYa, rabbits can die of heart attack if you startle them
- waserwill 7y agoThe important animals are other apes and primates, when considering the evolution of disease. If none of them have it but humans do, then it likely came about recently. This means that it has independently evolved in humans and other animals (like rodents) that may have it. Makes for a misleading headline, though.
- deleted 7y ago[deleted]
- ASalazarMX 7y agoApparently, after their hibernation, bears can have heart attacks too https://youtu.be/wT6GeJ9TsUw?t=52 https://youtu.be/wT6GeJ9TsUw?t=52 But that would be from malnutrition, not atherosclerosis.