A new study from Columbia University Medical Centre researchers, has discovered that the heart's pumping mechanism become less efficient among people with a common lung disease, even in people with no or mild symptoms.

The findings were published in the 21 January 2010 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine; the research is the first of its kind to cite a firm connection between heart function and mild COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease).

COPD, strongly linked to smoking, contributes as the fourth leading cause of deaths in the U. S. Researchers measured heart and lung function and structure in more than
2800 generally healthy adults.

The disorder often involves loss of lung tissue, called emphysema, as well as narrowed airways, persistent cough, and mucus production, known as chronic obstructive bronchitis.

"These results raise the intriguing possibility that treating lung disease may, in the future, improve heart function", said Dr Barr. "Further research is needed to prove whether treating mild COPD will help the heart work better".

The research, involving participants of NHLBI's Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis (MESA) lung study, reveals lung disease to bear a vital vascular component.

Using both MRIs and CT scans; they were able to find mild heart and lung abnormalities in majority of the people.