(13-02-13) Feeling stressed? Perceived stress can increase risk of developing heart disease

by John Phillip

(NaturalNews) A growing number of recent research studies have come to the
conclusion that stress is a significant risk factor for developing an array of
potentially deadly chronic illnesses including cancer, diabetes, dementia and
especially cardiovascular disease. Researchers have determined that moderate to
severe unresolved stress can be as dangerous to your health as smoking one pack
of cigarettes per day. Chronic stress causes the release of hormones that are
intended to save your life in a 'fight or flight' threatening situation. When
chronic stress is present, hormone levels never return to normal and heart
disease can be the result.

Researchers from the Columbia University Medical Center in New York have
released the results of a meta-analysis in the American Journal of Cardiology
analyzing six studies involving nearly 120,000 people that explains how a
person's stress level may help predict the risk of developing coronary heart
disease (CHD) or death from CHD. Prior studies have suggested that there may be
an association between stress and developing heart disease, but this is the
first research to fully establish the connection.

Perceived chronic stress dramatically raises actual risk of heart disease in
all age groups
The six studies included in this analysis asked questions designed to
determine perceived stress among the participants such as "How stressed do you
feel?" or "How often are you stressed?" Responses were ranked as either high
stress or low stress, and the researchers then followed them for an average of
14 years to compare the number of heart attacks and CHD deaths between the two
groups.

The study's authors determined that high perceived stress is associated with a
27 percent increased risk for incident CHD (defined as a new diagnosis or
hospitalization) or CHD mortality. Lead study author, Dr. Donald Edmondson
commented "This is the first meta-analytic review of the association of
perceived stress and incident CHD... high stress provides a moderate increase
in the risk of CHD -- e.g., the equivalent of a 50 mg/dL increase in LDL
cholesterol, a 2.7/1.4 mmHg increase in blood pressure or smoking five more
cigarettes per day."

The researchers also found a correlation between perceived stress and age.
People in the studies were between the ages of 43-74, and the scientists found
that among older people, the relationship between stress and CHD was stronger.
Dr. Edmonson concluded "The key takeaway is that how people feel is important
for their heart health, so anything they can do to reduce stress may improve
their heart health in the future." Stress reduction techniques provide an
important means to lower levels of chronic stress that will result in lower
incidence of cardiovascular disease and increased lifespan.

Sources for this article include:

http://www.ajconline.org/article/S0002-9149(12)01929-7/abstract
http://medicalxpress.com
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/12/121217121413.htm

News

---

In evidenza

"L'informazione presente nel sito serve a migliorare, e non a sostituire, il rapporto medico-paziente."

Per coloro che hanno problemi di salute si consiglia di consultare sempre il proprio medico curante.