HIDDEN PSYCHOLOGICAL DISTRESS MAY LEAD TO HEART DISEASE
A recent study suggests that cardiac overreaction to stress may increase the risk of heart disease in some people. The study revealed that people who were hiding psychological troubles—even from themselves—showed an abnormal jump in heartbeat and blood pressure when performing stressful tasks.
Earlier studies have linked such cardiac overreaction to heart disease, which often leads to heart attacks. Researchers say that while it is already known that being constantly anxious or constantly depressed is unhealthy, the new study suggests that suppressing such distress may be even more harmful.
In a related study, conducted at the University of Michigan, 58 people with an average age of just under 22 years and no known history of heart disease, were analyzed and tested in relation to their responses to stress. The participants filled out assessments of their psychological health as well as a test which dealt with their earliest memories. The tests of the subjects’ early memories were used by a psychologist to uncover signs of emotional distress.
The subjects’ responses to stress were analyzed while they performed assigned stressful tasks, such as timed mental arithmetic, making up stories about ambiguous drawings and saying the first thing that came to mind upon hearing certain phrases, according to researchers, the drawings and phrases used were designed to raise ‘hemes that many people find “psychologically threatening”. A measure that combined elevations in blood pressure and pulse rate was used to analyze the subjects’ responses to stress.
The results of the test showed that, of the people participating, those with hidden Stress were twice as reactive to stress as genuinely healthy people. The participants with hidden stress were also more reactive than people who admitted that they were stressed.
While neither study provides conclusive proof linking heart disease and cardiac overreaction to stress, many scientists consider the evidence convincing. And, according to the researchers, the studies serve to emphasize the need to deal with anxiety and tension in an open and healthy manner.
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