Money and heart issues
ARE you worrying too much about money issues? Beware, as you may be putting your heart at risk.
A new study has claimed people suffering from financial stress are at 13 times higher risk of having a heart attack.
Researchers say people are experiencing a hike in the chronic diseases of lifestyle such as myocardial infarction – a medical condition that develops a blockage of blood flow to the heart muscle. Therefore, psychosocial aspects of the body, especially stress related to finances, deserve more attention to prevent the increasing rate of cardiovascular diseases.
“Our study suggests psychosocial aspects are important risk factors for acute myocardial infarction. Often patients are counselled about stress after a heart attack but there needs to be more emphasis prior to an event,” said Denishan Govender, Associate Professor at the University of Witwatersrand in Johannesburg.
The researchers studied over 106 patients suffering from acute myocardial infarction but without any symptoms of cardiac diseases. The levels of psychological stress based on social conditions were compared and associated with chances of having a heart attack. The paper, presented in the Annual South Africa Heart Congress 2017, noted that self-reported stress levels were common among all participants. – IANS