Women twice as likely to develop fatal heart complications from mental stress than men

Wednesday 21st February 2018 06:14 EST
 

Women are twice as likely to develop fatal heart complications than men, new research warns.

The study found mental stress such as public speaking was more likely to cause myocardial ischemia, inadequate blood flow to the heart muscle, in young women who have had a heart attack compared to their male peers.

While previous studies showed a higher heart risk from mental stress for women, it wasn't clear to what extent.

The new research, published today by the American Heart Association, offers clearer evidence than ever that women may need more intensive care after a cardiac event than men, and mental stress may affect women's hearts more.

Researchers also found mental stress was associated with microvascular dysfunction, a chest pain that occurs when the heart muscle doesn't get enough blood and peripheral vasoconstriction, the narrowing of the blood vessels, among women but not men.


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