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Anxiety Puts Young Men At Risk For Heart Attack

anxious young men at risk for heart disease A new Swedish study shows that men diagnosed with anxiety in their teens or twenties are more then twice as likely to be diagnosed with heart disease or have a heart attack later in life.

Although the study indicates that a diagnosis of anxiety by a psychiatrist is correlated with the increased risk, it did not look at whether receiving treatment for anxiety decreased this risk. Because we know that correlation does not equal causation, there is no way to know whether a third factor causes both an increase in anxiety and an increase in heart disease. Some researchers hypothesize that the increase in adrenaline caused by anxiety could have an affect on the plaque build-up in arteries, leading to heart disease. This suggests that individuals who have been diagnosed with an anxiety disorder will want to keep an close eye on cardiovascular indicators such as blood pressure and lipid levels.

Further research is needed to know whether or not anxiety medications can help people avoid the increased risk, and whether there is an increased risk for women, who were not examined in the study. Treatments for anxiety that carry minimal side effects should be considered by those suffering from anxiety. Cognitive behavioral therapy, relaxation training, and meditation are shown to be effective with little or no side effects.

People who find themselves ruminating over worries, big or small, can benefit from making a number of small changes in their lives. First off, breathe! Taking deep breaths can help calm you down and focusing on breathing can help distract your mind from its worries. Avoid drugs like caffeine, nicotine and alcohol, which can make anxiety worse. Eat a healthy, balanced diet and exercise on a regular basis. Finally, finding someone to talk to about your worries can help you gain perspective and come up with a positive plan to deal with them. If worries become overwhelming, or if these tips don’t alleviate the symptoms of anxiety, then a visit to a therapist and/or psychiatrist may be in order.