Stress Causes Heart Diseases in Women: Study

Stress affects heart health differently in men and women, according to a study.

It is a known fact that both men and women react differently to stress. A new research found mental disturbances affect  heart health  differently in men and women. The experts at the Duke University Medical Center observed 254 men and 56 women with poor heart condition and disease to note the after-effects of medications. All participants were asked to undertake a math test, minor tracing test and tasks like recollecting situation where the experimenters ill-treated them to induce stress. The subjects were also made to run on the treadmill after taking the tests and their heart rate and blood pressure levels were evaluated from blood samples, reports the Daily Mail.

The finding revealed men had major variations in blood pressure and heart rate due to mental stress while, women mostly experienced myocardial ischemia or reduced blood flow to heart muscles. In addition, the researchers noted blood samples of women showed high platelet formation causing blood clots compared to men. Also, they reported having negative thoughts and massive decrease in positive emotions when stressed. These results indicate that women are more vulnerable to heart diseases triggered by emotional and mental disturbances.

"The relationship between mental stress and cardiovascular disease is well known. This study revealed that mental stress affects the cardiovascular health of men and women differently. We need to recognise this difference when evaluating and treating patients for cardiovascular disease," said Zainab Samad, study author and assistant professor of medicine at Duke University Medical Center, reports the Business Standard.

"At this point, further studies are needed to test the association of sex differences in the heart's responses to mental stress and long term outcomes," she adds.

More information is available online in the journal of American College of Cardiology.