The Link Between Stress and the Heart
According to the report there are areas of the brain that are responsible for causing the heart to much strain. These areas include learning, emotion and memory. It has been discovered that these areas of the brain can send out signals that can disrupt the correct functioning of the heart if the person already has some kind of problem with their heart.
This finding is very concerning as the researchers now believe that serious heart problems could occur, some with the potential to be fatal.
The research was carried out by the National Academy of Sciences in the UK. It was a study that was a more detailed look at the way mental stress can affect the heart in people that already have some kind of heart condition, whether they are aware of it or not. It is thought that this stress can cause the heart to beat irregularly or even cause a person to die suddenly.
The head writer of the study, Marcus Gray, said, "Our findings highlight the dynamic interaction of heart and brain in stress-induced cardiovascular morbidity."
In the study people with existing heart problems were observed and tested. Tests were carried out to see the subject's brain and heart patterns. The subjects were asked to perform a task cause them some stress while also being. This task was to count as fast as they could backwards and by sevens. The task caused each subject to have higher heart activity.
The fact that stress can cause the heart strain was already known before this study. However, the reason for the heart strain was thought to be caused by primitive regions of the brain but exactly where was not known. This study further investigates this.
When discussing the study Marcus Gray said, "We know that stress can increase the risk of sudden death through cardiac arrest and that the brain areas responsible for regulating heart function can be unbalanced by stress. Our research suggests that the cerebral cortex may play a significant role in these events by becoming involved in a vicious circle."
It is hoped that the results of this study will allow for a method that would help indicate people who were at higher risk from serious heart problems from stress signals from the brain.
Researchers in Canada are carrying out more research on how the heart is affect by various conditions of the brain. This Canadian study is looking at how restless leg syndrome, a condition in the brain that causes a person to feel the need to more their legs frequently, affects the risk of a person developing heart disease.
Sources
http://society.guardian.co.uk/health/story/0,,2053414,00.html
http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601102&sid=aFgFNQaNOsa0&refer=uk
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/6540449.stm
Published by Siun Griffin
I have been a freelance writer for several years. I enjoy writing about a variety of topics, particularly the environment, animals, entertainment, and travel. However, I don't limit myself to those topics, a... View profile
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