Scared to Death: The Link Between Stress and Coronary Heart Disease

Summary

Researches examined coroners records from Los Angeles County and found a jump in cardiovascular deaths few months after huge earthquake struck near that state. Most of people who died had a history of coronary disease, but those people who died were not involved in rescue efforts.

Furthermore, heart specialist found that psychological stress is just as harmful to heart as many sources of physiological stress. Researchers also found out that people who had some psychological problems in their childhood later would have bigger risk of heart disease. What is more, in another study, researches asked many people who had first time heart attack. Many of these people was smokers, had high blood pressure, but also there were many people who had high psychological risk factors.

Moreover, stress hormones causes physiological changes that damage blood vessels over time – including the coronary arteries. Other research suggests that activities that reduce stress may have a protective effect.

All in all, considering that the stresses of modern life aren’t easily avoided, people should be happier. Laughter helps arteries to relax and it has a good influence on blood flow. That helps to avoid heart diseases.