Physical exertion, anger or emotional distress are linked to heart attacks. A large case-control study has just confirmed that common wisdom.
INTERHEART and Extreme Emotion:
The INTERHEART study was published in the journal Circulation. In it, investigators examined the circumstances in the hour before an initial heart attack.
The investigators reviewed data on 12,461 heart attacks across 52 countries. This analysis showed that sudden intense physical activity, such as shoveling snow or running to catch a plane, doubled the risk of a heart attack in the next hour. So did an experience of anger or other extreme emotion.
When patients experienced both anger and exertion, they were three times more likely to suffer an initial myocardial infarction.
The Recommendation:
The authors suggest that doctors should encourage patients to avoid emotional upset, which can trigger adrenaline and other stress responses. These increase heart rate and blood pressure, which can in turn raise the possibility of a heart attack.
We are skeptical of telling people to avoid extreme emotions. We doubt that most folks can do this on command. Perhaps instead doctors should prescribe anger management classes for their patients who are at risk for a heart attack.
As for unaccustomed physical exertion, the best way to counteract that danger might be to exercise regularly. That practice should also strengthen the heart and circulation. It might even help people work off toxic emotions that could harm their hearts.
