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According to a recent study, carpal tunnel syndromeexternal link, opens in a new tab might be an early sign of transthyretin amyloid cardiomyopathy (ATTR-CM), a type of cardiac amyloidosisexternal link, opens in a new tab known as "stiff heart syndrome."
The research, published in Mayo Clinic Proceedings, found that patients with carpal tunnel syndrome had a higher prevalence of amyloid deposits in their tissue. The link was especially true for people having carpal tunnel release surgeryexternal link, opens in a new tab.1 As a result, people with carpal tunnel have three times the risk of developing amyloidosis compared to those without carpal tunnel syndrome. They also have a 13% greater risk of heart failure.
"This link is crucial, as it suggests that carpal tunnel syndrome could serve as an early warning sign for cardiac amyloidosis, potentially allowing for earlier diagnosis and intervention to prevent severe cardiac complications," Pankaj Arora, MDexternal link, opens in a new tab, the senior author of the study and an associate professor of medicine in the Division of Cardiovascular Diseaseexternal link, opens in a new tab at the University of Alabama at Birmingham, told Verywell.
Here's what experts want you to know about protecting your joints and heart if you have carpal tunnel syndrome.