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Posted on Dec 07, 2003, 4 a.m.
By Bill Freeman
The September 11th terrorist attacks caused a significant rise in heart attacks, say Dr Jianwei Feng and colleagues at New York Methodist Hospital in Brooklyn. Feng's study revealed that the hospital treated 35% more heart attacks and 40% more cases of serious arrhythmia than normal in the 60 days following the attacks.
The September 11th terrorist attacks caused a significant rise in heart attacks, say Dr Jianwei Feng and colleagues at New York Methodist Hospital in Brooklyn. Feng's study revealed that the hospital treated 35% more heart attacks and 40% more cases of serious arrhythmia than normal in the 60 days following the attacks. The findings support the theory that psychological stress can trigger heart attack. Feng says that there is a clear biological explanation for the link between stress and heart attack: "Any time a person experiences psychological or emotional stress, catecholamine levels rise, which increases heart rate and blood pressure," he said.
SOURCE/REFERENCE: Reported by www.reutershealth.com on the 12th November 2003.
