9/11 attack, occurred 6 years ago, had still borne deeply in our memory. It had undoubtedly created fears of terrorism to Americans. The psychological stress thus developed had also given heart problems to Americans even if they had no direct personal connection to the attacks on New York and Washington; this is what researchers have found.
A study, conducted by the University of California, Irvine and published in the January 2008 edition of the Archives of General Psychiatry, reported that there was a 53 percent increase in heart problems, such as high blood pressure and stroke in a 3-years period after Sept 11, 2001. The study is the first of its kind to demonstrate the long-term effect of the 9/11 attacks on cardiac health.
The 3-year study involved 1,500 adults surveyed at random whose health information had been recorded before the attacks. Researchers quizzed participants about their stress responses in the weeks after the attacks and issued annual follow-up questions ending in late 2004.
Most participants, who had no pre-existing heart problems, watched the attacks on live television while one-third had no personal connection to them. The results persisted even when risk factors such as smoking and obesity were taken into account.
It seems that the media exposure for 9/11 attacks helped to convey enough stress to people who responded in a way that contributed to their cardiovascular problems. Chronic worriers were the most at risk from heart problems, as revealed in the report.
A study, conducted by the University of California, Irvine and published in the January 2008 edition of the Archives of General Psychiatry, reported that there was a 53 percent increase in heart problems, such as high blood pressure and stroke in a 3-years period after Sept 11, 2001. The study is the first of its kind to demonstrate the long-term effect of the 9/11 attacks on cardiac health.
The 3-year study involved 1,500 adults surveyed at random whose health information had been recorded before the attacks. Researchers quizzed participants about their stress responses in the weeks after the attacks and issued annual follow-up questions ending in late 2004.
Most participants, who had no pre-existing heart problems, watched the attacks on live television while one-third had no personal connection to them. The results persisted even when risk factors such as smoking and obesity were taken into account.
It seems that the media exposure for 9/11 attacks helped to convey enough stress to people who responded in a way that contributed to their cardiovascular problems. Chronic worriers were the most at risk from heart problems, as revealed in the report.
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