Panic Attacks In Women Directly Linked To Cardiac Events

Do you worry yourself to death? Are you anxious and easily panicked? I am a very anxious person by nature and tend to worry about things that I can’t even control. But there is new research that states that women who have at least one full blown panic attack increase their risk for heart attack, stroke and an untimely death. Well, well, well… if that isn’t reason enough to get my worries under control, I don’t know what would be.

The results add panic attacks to the list of emotions and psychiatric symptoms that have already been linked to cardiovascular risk, including depression, anger and hostility, the authors note. Panic attacks could be associated with other cardiovascular risk factors, such as hypertension. Alternatively, anxiety could contribute to adverse cardiovascular effects, such as coronary artery spasm, tendency toward increased blood clotting or disturbances in heart rhythm.

The study concentrated on post menopausal women over 5 years. There is a need for further research to examine the exact link between panic attacks and cardiac events. Psychiatry is so interesting. What came first the chicken or the egg? Does mental occurrences trigger physical or physical events cause mental? I will keep you posted on this one!

via Science Daily