If you come from a long line of worriers you may be at higher risk for heart problems early in life. A new study found that men with a family history of anxiety are more likely to develop heart disease. Lead author Mark Ketterer, Ph.D., from the Henry Ford Hospital in Detroit, Michigan, recommends that patients who are treated for early heart disease sign up for a mental health check up as well. Treating stress and anxiety can help prevent further heart problems.
The researchers studied 100 men and women who had been treated for heart disease. They followed the traditional indicators—high blood pressure, cholesterol, diabetes, smoking and excessive body weight— and asked subjects to complete a stress-symptom checklist. Men with a family history of early heart disease had higher stress symptom scores than men with no such family history. The study highlights a unique connection between mental health and heart disease.
