BlogMed

Heart Attacks Higher in Anxious People

January 8th, 2008 | by Mark Sapienza, M.D. |

A recent study reported in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology has linked the incidence of heart attacks  to people with anxiety disorders.   It has been known  for some time that Type A personalities with personality traits of aggression and hostility have had a higher incidence of heart disease and heart attacks, but now researchers in the US found that fearful, anxious people were up to 40 % more likely to suffer a heart attack compared to the general population.  The findings were more common in older men with chronic symptoms of anxiety even after other variables such as smoking and obesity were factored in.   The findings were based on analysis of  data on 735 men who scored high in anxiety tests and who were followed over a 12 year period starting when they were healthy.     The researchers do point out that anxiety is treatable and that this risk may be mitigated.

 Reference:  Shen et al,  American Journal of Cardiology.   2008 Jan.

Tags: anxiety, Heart Attack