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The Forgotten Dialect: Our Body Language

Part 6: Additional Mindbody Research

by: Dr. Roger Gietzen
Neurologist & Mindbody Medicine Specialist

Vascular Disease

When looking for the causes of vascular diseases, such as narrowed blood vessels and heart problems, we often stop our search at factors such as genetics and bad habits. By now we are starting to see that genetics and bad habits are influenced by how we handle stress. Many studies have confirmed the association of stress and heart disease directly. For example, in Sweden a group of young men were followed over 37 years. The study found that those with anxiety disorders had twice the likelihood of later developing heart disease (22). Another study looked at whether the quality of close relationships influenced heart disease in over 9000 people. It found that those who felt their close relationships were negative had a 34% increase in the incidence of coronary artery disease (heart blood vessel disease) over a 12 year follow up period (23). In another large study of 10,000 people, it was found that a positive close relationship exerted a protective effect against the development of chest pain. Specifically, those at high risk for the development of coronary artery disease experienced half the rate of chest pain if they perceived that their spouse showed them love (24).

In those people who already have heart disease, whether it goes on to cause further problems or not, is also influenced by our mindbody connection. For example, in a group of individuals with stable heart problems, it was discovered that the presence of a generalized anxiety disorder increased the chance of a major vascular event (heart attack, stroke or sudden death) by 74% (25). Also, having a positive close relationship, measured by the presence of a “confidant”, was shown to reduce the risk of death in those individuals with proven coronary artery disease. Over 5 years, those with a confidant had a 5% death rate, where as those without one had a 50% death rate (26).

Lastly, in a study of over 5000 people, carried out over 3 years, a connection between hostile coping skills and carotid artery narrowing was found. Having antagonistic or hostile coping traits helped predict who would later develop narrowing of the carotid artery and this factor was more powerful than vascular risk factors, such as diabetes or high blood pressure (27). What other unhealthy coping skills could be a risk factor for hardened arteries?

References

22. Janszky I et al. Early-onset depression, anxiety and risk of subsequent coronary heart disease. 37-year follow-up of 49,321 young Swedish men. J Am Coll Cardiol 2010; 56: 31-37.

23. De Volgi R et al; Negative Aspects of Close Relationships and Heart Disease. Arch Intern Med. 2007; 167: 1951-57.

24. Medalie JH et al; Angina pectoris among 10,000 mean II. Psychosocial and other risk factors as evidenced by a multivariate analysis of a five-year incidence study. Am J Medicine. 1976; 60(6): 910-21.

25. Martens EJ et al. Scared to death? Generalized anxiety disorder and cardiovascular events in patients with stable coronary heart disease: the heart and soul study. Arch Gen Psychiatry. 2010; 67:750-758.

26. Williams RB et al; Prognostic importance of social and economic resources among the medically treated patients with angiographically documented CAD. JAMA. 1992; 267(4): 520-24.

27. Sutin AR et al; Trait antagonism and the progression of arterial thickening. Women with antagonistic traits have similar carotid arterial thickness as men. Hypertension, published online, August 2010.