Outbursts of anger and anger in people after a heart attack are more likely to lead to another attack. On the other hand, laughter and all positive emotions extend life – experts argued during the congress of the European Society of Cardiology, which is taking place in Paris.
Dr. Franco Bonaguidi from the Institute of Clinical Physiology in Pisa said that for 10 years he observed 228 people after a heart attack with the so-called unstable coronary artery disease. He made a psychological portrait of them, examined what emotions most often governed them, whether they were often angry, depressed and had drug attacks. Finally, he checked how it affected their heart, taking into account age, gender, general health and lifestyle.
During 10 years of follow-up, 51 patients experienced another heart attack, which resulted in death in 28 of them. It was most common in those who felt negative emotions and often exploded with anger, said Dr. Bonaguidi.
In his opinion, based on the mental state, it is possible to predict who will have another heart attack, this time fatal. The calculations he presented show that people suffering from anxiety disorders are almost twice as likely to experience another attack. Outbursts of anger and anger almost two and a half times (2,3 times) increase the risk of a heart attack – emphasized the Italian specialist.
His research confirms previously published reports that negative emotions, especially anger and anger, are a separate factor that increases the risk of a heart attack. It should also be remembered by those who have not had a heart attack yet. During the congress, the 2009 meta-analysis of 25 other studies was recalled, which suggested that negative emotions also increase the risk of a first heart attack, both in people with coronary heart disease and in those who seem to be healthy.
The good news is that negative emotions can be controlled, for example with the help of a psychotherapist, argued Dr. Bonaguidi. He regrets that people who have had their first heart attack tend to change their behavior and emotional responses. And it is worth thinking about it earlier – added the Italian specialist.
Positive emotions, such as simple laughter, can reduce the risk of a heart attack. This was demonstrated at a congress by Dr.Michael Miller of the University of Maryland in Baltimore, who showed 20 non-smokers two different genres in separate screenings: first the crazy comedy Blonde Girl, and then the highly stressful Saving Private Ryan. At the same time, he investigated the flow of blood in the blood vessels of viewers under the influence of experienced emotions.
It found that when the volunteers watched the comedy, their blood vessels were dilated and their blood flow was 22 percent. greater. During Private Ryan’s projection, the vessels reacted in the opposite way: they narrowed and blood flow decreased by 35%.
Smiling frequently while watching comedies was the same as when you exercise or take a statin (a drug that lowers blood cholesterol and affects blood vessels – PAP), Dr. Miller said.
The scientist explained that a smile that lasts at least 15 seconds stimulates the secretion of endorphins in the brain. These, in turn, activate receptors in the blood vessel endothelium, thereby releasing larger amounts of carbon monoxide. Carbon monoxide dilates the vessels, reduces inflammation, prevents the accumulation of cholesterol and the formation of deposits in the internal walls of the vessels – said Dr. Miller in an interview with the PAP journalist.
The specialist announced that he now wants to conduct research on patients after a heart attack, which is to show that positive emotions reduce the risk of another attack and can extend the life of patients. He added that without waiting for their results, he was already prescribing his patients so that they could rejoice and smile as often as possible. In his opinion, this is an excellent drug.
Zbigniew Wojtasiński (PAP)