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Vishal
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Joined: 15 Apr 2007
Posts: 92
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# Posted: 26 Aug 2007 05:32
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According to a research conducted by a team of scientists, there is a definite link between stress and heart attack. They found that in stressful situations, blood pressure took a relatively longer time to come to normal in stressed people than less stressed ones. Also, there is a marked increase in platelets (clot forming blood cells). These platelets, formed to stop bleeding due to tear in heart vessel wall, could actually cause blockage in heart vessels.
Lead researcher and Professor of Psychology for the BHF Andrew Steptoe said: "What's been suspected for a number of years is that emotional stress can trigger heart attack in people who are vulnerable.
"What this study does is to provide some information about the biology underpinning that response and why it is that certain people may be vulnerable.
"It is something to do with the way particular people react to emotional stress."
He said the finding of high platelet levels was key.
How stress triggers heart attack
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Dr_Broadland
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# Posted: 1 Sep 2007 13:52
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The research ma show higher platelets levels, but you do not need any specific research to show higher adrenaline levels with stress and it is a well know scientific fact that adrenaline raises blood pressure.
Any sudden rise in blood pressure can trigger a cardiac or a cerebral (i.e. in the brain) event.
I took a closer look at the study by BHFl. Here is a relevant excerpt from it.
"The UCL team looked at 34 men who had suffered a heart attack or severe chest pain an average of 15 months earlier.
From these they identified 14 whose symptoms had been preceded by acute stress, anger and depression. "
The reader should note that a study was conducted on 34 and in fact 14 out of these.
The person behind the research – the lead researcher is a Professor of Psychology for the BHF Andrew Steptoe. Later in this report I found a typical British way of keeping respect and distancing from a well respected personality.
"Dr Nick Brooks, president of the British Cardiac Society and consultant cardiologist at South Manchester University Hospital NHS Trust, said the study was ingenious but limited by the small numbers involved."
Quite frankly the stastical basis for any conclusions does not exist.
Quotes from http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/4754658.stm
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Vishal
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# Posted: 2 Sep 2007 07:40
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Thanks for sharing that Broadland!
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TajviRAC
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# Posted: 17 Apr 2008 22:39
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Certainly stress is directly related to high blood pressure.
However, it is proved that stress in not an ideal condition of health and mind and long time exposure to stress may affect you seriously.
I also agree with the remark of Dr Nick Brookes on a direct impact of stress on heart attack.
It needs to be studied more.
Thanks.
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Dr_Broadland
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Joined: 19 Jul 2007
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# Posted: 25 Apr 2008 12:54
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We should distinguish between finding and conclusions. Findings require specific scientific approach. Conclusions (of the nature of a cardiology statement) require medical/cardiologist background. Neither of these conditions was satisfied by the research conducted by Prof. Steptoe, who is a psychologist (not a psychiatrist). He is by training and experience is not very conversant with scientific methodology and importance of double blind study in medical investigation of the nature he conducted and published and certainly not qualified to draw conclusions from the meager findings, conclusions that even a medically qualified person who is not a cardiologist would hesitate to draw.
On the other hand, Dr Nick Brooks, is a cardiologist and president of the British Cardiac Society and consultant cardiologist at South Manchester University Hospital NHS Trust, and he said, "the study was ingenious but limited by the small numbers involved." This is a typical British understatement or subtle statement, which in plainer language would mean – "Ignore him, he does not have the necessary data and has ingeniously cooked up conclusions out of thin air."
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TajviRAC
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# Posted: 30 Apr 2008 11:52
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Actually what is the physiological definition of a heart attack?
Isn’t it the temporary stoppage of beating or a haemorrhage inside the heart?
Stress could be a catalyst for heart attack but I dare not claiming it "the Reason" for a heart attack.
Even extreme reactions or emotions like panic could cause a heart attack. I heard about people dying after having seen their favourite team win the world cup.
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Dr_Broadland
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# Posted: 1 May 2008 12:48
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Quoting: TajviRAC Actually what is the physiological definition of a heart attack? Isn't it the temporary stoppage of beating or a haemorrhage inside the heart?.....
The muscle of the heart does not derive its nutrition and oxygen for the blood inside the heart, but the heart muscle is supplied with nutrition in blood in small arteries like any other muscle of the body. When for any reason there is inadequate blood supply to the heart muscle it manifests in angina, and if sufficiently severe, it results in a heart attack where a part of hear muscle usually dies because of lack of blood supply.
Quoting: TajviRAC .......Stress could be a catalyst for heart attack but I dare not claiming it "the Reason" for a heart attack. Even extreme reactions or emotions like panic could cause a heart attack. ......
Chronic stress results in increased adrenalin and hypertension which eventually leads to a heart attacks. It acts additively to other causes of heart attack.
Acute stress as in a panic attack can cause tremendous outpouring of adrenalin and can cause a heart attack. Having said that, panic attacks are often characterized by chest pain and usually DO NOT result in a heart attack – this causes difficulty in diagnosis.
Quoting: TajviRAC .....I heard about people dying after having seen their favourite team win the world cup.
You just enunciated a little appreciated fact about stress. Stress is not caused just by a tragic or an undesirable event. A desirable or a pleasant experience is also stressful. The experience of getting married or birth of a baby is a stress and equally responsible of all the stress related problems we have been discussing. Therefore, it is conceivable that people seeing "their favourite team win the world cup" may get a sufficient amount of acute stress, precipitating a cardiac event in a previously diseased heart from narrowing of arteries.
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