Dr. Zorba Paster: Study Reveals Stress Can Be A Cardiac Risk Factor | Madison.com Health, Sports Health and Fitness

Years ago we are talking about decades, some studies would have shown that type A personalities were more likely to have heart disease. Studies have distinguished outgoing, ambitious, rigidly organized, status-sensitive, sensitive, impatient, anxious, proactive and time-sensitive individuals.

Many studies have since refuted this hypothesis and, in fact, have proved the opposite. Type A people are more likely to change their lifestyle and take medication if necessary to stay healthy. They are generally ahead of the pack in terms of well-being. Nevertheless, this folklore about the type A people is still simmering in the background.

But the stress is different. I remember my mother saying, "This person is going to kill himself because she's so stressed." A new study published in the British Medical Journal might well show that she was right. Too much stress can lead to heart disease.

Let's review the study that took place in Sweden. They have a lot of heart disease, so it's a good place to do some research. In Sweden, a health system funded largely by the government allows them to maintain excellent medical records. They know how many people have consulted a doctor and under what conditions, which has caused people to be hospitalized and who has died from what. Everything is in a database.

They badyzed 136,000 records from 1987 to 2013 regarding people diagnosed with stressful events. It is stress with a capital S, such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), acute stress reactions and adjustment disorders, the death of a loved one, natural disasters, rape, physical violence – a whole list of things we all agree on: very stressful.

They then compared these medical records with those of the siblings of the patients, if they had them, and one million Swedish people of the same age who were not going to see their doctor for stress-related problems.

What they found was monumental. After controlling weight, smoking, diabetes, high blood pressure, cholesterol and many other things, significant stress has emerged as a major risk factor for heart attack, heart failure and cardiac arrest during the period of one year following the stressful event.

The question is: what should we do about it? Having data, that's fine, but if we do not do anything, then it's worthless.

If you know someone who has just experienced a traumatic event, talk to him. The friendship always helps. Knowing that someone on the back can offer comfort. Giving feedback and advice can be very important.

Tips, antidepressants and similar medications can make a huge difference in recovery if you have recently experienced an event. Just recognizing that you have something to recover can help you move forward and not increase your stress.

And finally, consider mindfulness meditation. It's becoming more and more available through courses, apps, and other web methods that can teach you how to calm down.

My turn: The mind-body connection has always been present. Recognizing it and taking preventative measures for a stressed person could make all the difference between life and death. Stay well.