4 Emotional Reactions That Increase The Risk Of Having A Heart Attack
They say that we do not suffer because of the things that happen to us but because of how we react to them. Therefore, reacting negatively may have some consequences for our health, such as the risk of having a heart attack.
Negative emotions, such as stress and anxiety, accompanied by unhealthy habits, could increase the risk of having a heart attack in people who are repeatedly exposed to them.
According to data from the World Health Organization, cardiovascular diseases are the leading cause of death in industrialized countries. Next, we will see what role emotional reactions play in heart health.
1. Outbursts of anger can increase the risk of having a heart attack
A study in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology suggests that, although more research is needed on the subject, there could be a link between anger and hostility and coronary heart disease.
It is also highlighted that the treatment of these diseases could involve a multidisciplinary approach, which should include psychological help to overcome these negative emotions. Thus, as often happens on the small and on the big screen, a heated argument could be the cause of a heart attack.
In fact, in a study from The Medical Journal of Australia , research psychologists found that many people experienced symptoms such as muscle tension, loss of control, and a feeling of exploding before the attack.
According to the study, the main triggers for these symptoms were:
- Discussions with other people.
- Family discussions.
- Problems at work.
- Traffic problems.
2. Anxiety, a precipitating factor
During an anxiety attack, physiological changes occur that can increase the risk of having a heart attack, which means that the heart rate and blood pressure skyrocket, and blood clotting increases.
According to a study published in Current Psychiatry Reports , anxiety disorders could significantly influence cardiovascular health, since they are linked to the onset and progression of the disease. It also suggests that, in patients who do not have any cardiovascular disease, anxiety could have an impact on its subsequent development.
3. Hostility, another factor that influences
Hostility appears as aggressive behavior that can manifest itself in verbal or physical violence, which, in some cases, is associated with the onset of the disease.
A publication in the Journal of The American Heart Association states that hostility could influence the onset of cardiovascular disease, especially when combined with bad habits, such as smoking and physical inactivity. However, more evidence is needed to corroborate this.
4. Depression, a factor that makes the heart sick
Both anxiety and depression bring with them physiological changes that could impair the normal function of the nervous and immune systems. They can also affect normal heart rhythm, which could increase the risk of having a heart attack.
A Frontiers in Psychiatry study suggests that, in addition to the more common factors such as hypertension, diabetes mellitus, and smoking, depression and stress could be factors that increase the risk of developing cardiovascular disease. Also, when coronary heart disease is mixed with symptoms associated with depression, these two conditions worsen.
Risk of having a heart attack: what should be clear?
Intense emotional reactions are neither necessary nor sufficient conditions to cause a heart attack or other cardiovascular problem in a healthy person. However, the accumulation of risk factors such as being overweight, arteriosclerosis, high blood pressure, among others, can turn them into triggers.
To prevent cardiovascular disease, it is necessary to have healthy habits for both physical and mental health. Eating correctly or avoiding a sedentary lifestyle are not enough if, in addition, we have attacks of anger or anxiety several times a day.
If stress is a problem, we can learn to control it with relaxation techniques, or seek professional help if we see that the symptoms are very strong or we are not able to control them.
