Journal of the American Heart Association: Young men who are too anxious are more likely to develop heart disease and diabetes
The more anxious and worried you are, the more likely you are to have a heart attack? Are neurotic men at higher cardiovascular risk?
A new long-term study published in the Journal of the American Heart Association shows that as they age, men who are more prone to anxiety and worry when they are young will have a higher risk of heart disease, stroke, and type 2 diabetes in middle age. The study pointed out that men are more likely to suffer from anxiety and worry, and their physiological metabolic conditions are more likely to increase the risk of heart disease. Moreover, the relationship between men is earlier than most people think, and may already occur in childhood or adolescence.
The study looked at changes in the bodies of 1,561 men from 1975, when the average age was 53, to 2015. The personality scale and depression scale were used to evaluate the subjects’ “neurotic” degree. The personality scale assessed neurotic personality with a score of 0-9. The higher the tendency to neuroticism, the more likely it is to interpret surrounding situations as related to threats and pressure. People with high levels of neuroticism are more likely to experience emotions such as fear, anxiety, sadness, and anger, which are more intense and frequent.
Lead study author and clinical psychologist Lewina Lee said that worry or stress acts as an adaptive indicator in the evolutionary process, and appropriate worry and stress can help people find constructive solutions. However, worry and stress can also be unhealthy, especially around a problem whose future outcome is uncertain and beyond your control, and can interfere with the normal functioning of your body and mind.
The research team analyzed the recipients’ follow-up data against seven cardiovascular disease risk factors, including blood pressure, cholesterol, triglycerides, BMI, fasting blood glucose, erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), and inflammation indicators. Being classified as high risk is worth one point. The study found that among subjects of all different age groups, those with higher neuroticism indicators had more high cardiovascular risk scores, and the likelihood of having more than 6 high risk scores increased by 13%.
Men’s cardiovascular risk increases by 1 every 10 years Can treating anxiety prevent heart disease?
Lewina Lee pointed out that regardless of anxiety assessment scores, the risk factors related to heart disease in men increased by one on average every 10 years between the ages of 33 and 65. However, over time, men who were more prone to anxiety and worry were more likely to develop cardiovascular disease than men who were less anxious.
The authors stated that although it is impossible to determine whether treating anxiety and worry can reduce the risk of heart disease, people with similar personality traits should be reminded to pay more attention to their heart health, and it is recommended that they receive regular health check-ups and actively pay attention to cardiovascular-related physiological values. Changes, such as taking medication for high blood pressure and maintaining a healthy weight, can help reduce your risk of heart disease.
Lewina Lee said that future research will focus on whether women and subgroups of different races, ethnicities and socioeconomic status also show higher neuroticism scores and more cardiovascular risk factors. They should also study whether anxiety problems are related to young hearts. There is a relationship between diseases.
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Men who worry more may develop heart disease and diabetes risk factors at younger ages
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