U.S. researchers have found that men who are more anxious are more likely to develop heart disease and diabetes. The results of the study are published in the Journal of the American Heart Association. To track the link between anxiety and risk factors for cardiovascular disease, stroke and type 2 diabetes, the authors analyzed data from participants in the Normative Aging Study, which began in 1961 at the American Veterans Outpatient Clinic in Boston.
The analysis included 1,561 men, whose average age in 1975 was 53. At the time of entry into the study, they had no cardiovascular disease or cancer and all had passed neuroticism tests.
Neuroticism is a personality trait characterized by a tendency to interpret situations as threatening, stressful, or depressing. People with a high level of neuroticism tend to experience more negative emotions – such as fear, anxiety, sadness and anger. “Our results show that higher levels of anxiety among men are linked to biological processes that can lead to heart disease and metabolic disorders. And this connection may have occurred much earlier than previously thought.” potentially in childhood or adolescence, “said Levina Lee, an associate professor of psychiatry at Boston University School of Medicine and a clinical psychologist at the U.S. Department of Veterans’ National Center for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder. “Anxiety is related to our attempts to solve a problem whose result is unclear – it can be positive or negative. Anxiety can be adaptive, for example when it leads us to constructive decisions, or unhealthy, especially when it becomes uncontrollable and interferes with our daily lives. activities “, explains the scientist.
Study participants underwent medical examinations and blood tests every three to five years. Among the parameters for assessing health, the authors chose seven cardiometabolic risk factors: upper and lower blood pressure, total cholesterol, triglycerides, body mass index, blood sugar, erythrocyte sedimentation rate and inflammatory marker. Each participant was given points, one for each of the seven risk factors. If a person had six or more high-risk markers, the researchers thought he had already developed cardiometabolic disease. The researchers found that between the ages of 33 and 65, the average amount of high-risk cardiometabolic factors increased by about one per decade, reaching an average of 3.8 to 65 years of age.
But in all age groups, there were more participants with higher levels of neuroticism. After adjusting demographic characteristics such as income and education and a family history of heart disease, the researchers estimated that their risk of developing cardiometabolic factors was 13% higher than that of people with low anxiety, RIA Novosti reported.
Everyone feels anxious at some point in their lives, whether it’s a job interview, a first date or if you’re about to have a baby. Some anxiety is helpful – it helps us respond to stress or potential threats by speeding up reflexes and focusing attention and usually calming down once the stressful situation is over.
Anxiety is when these feelings do not disappear, they are extreme for the situation and you do not seem to be able to control them. When anxiety is severe or present all the time, it makes it difficult to cope with daily life. Feelings: • are quite intense • last for weeks, months or can last for many years • negatively affect your thoughts, behavior and overall health • make you feel upset and not enjoy life. Anxiety can cause physical symptoms such as pain, palpitations or stomach cramps. For some people, these physical symptoms are their main concern. Anxiety can affect other areas of your life, such as your ability to cope, perform at work, and affect your relationships with friends and family.
It is common for people who experience anxiety to feel depressed. Symptoms of anxiety and depression may overlap. What are the signs and symptoms? Anxiety and symptoms of anxiety can gradually overwhelm you. This can make it difficult to identify. Some common symptoms of anxiety include: • hot and cold waves trembling • fast heartbeat • feeling tight or chest pain • struggling to breathe • worries that get bigger and bigger racing mind full of thoughts • a constant need to check that things are right or clean • constant anxious ideas that seem “stupid or crazy”. There are different types of anxiety disorders, but these are the most common: Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) is when people worry about a number of things, most days for six months or more. It usually affects young adults and women more than men.
Phobias are extreme and irrational fears about something. This can be so great that a person makes a lot of effort to avoid it, even if it is protected.
Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is when a person has unwanted, obsessive, persistent or recurring thoughts, feelings, ideas or sensations that cause anxiety.
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a reaction to a highly stressful event outside the scope of everyday experience, when a person feels very insecure or threatened. Panic disorder is when a person has panic attacks. These are intense feelings of anxiety, along with the type of physical symptoms and overwhelming sensations you would have if you were in great danger. If you notice any of these symptoms, consult a doctor immediately.
N.B. The article is informative and does not aim to make diagnoses. A doctor’s opinion and examination are needed to determine if you have a health problem or not.
