Heart problems linked to 9-11

People who experienced stress and fear after the September 11th terrorist attacks are more likely to suffer from heart problems, research has found.

In the first study to demonstrate the cardiac health impact of the attacks on the World Trade Centre and the Pentagon, researchers say acute stress responses are linked to a 53 per cent increase in cardiovascular problems in the three years after the event.

The increased risk of heart problems remained high even after health status before September 11th; degree of exposure to the attacks; and risk factors such as cholesterol problems and diabetes were taken into account.

Individuals who reported ongoing worry about terrorism after September 11th were three to four times more likely to report a doctor-diagnosed heart problem two to three years after the attacks.

“Our study is the first to show that even among people who had no personal connection to the victims, those who reported high levels of post-traumatic stress symptoms in the days following the 9/11 attacks were more than twice as likely to report being diagnosed by their doctors with cardiovascular ailments like high blood pressure, heart problems and stroke up to three years later,” said Alison Holman, Professor in Nursing Science and lead researcher for the study.

Roxane Cohen Silver, professor of psychology and social behaviour and medicine at University Of California – Irvine, added: “Our findings highlight the possibility that acute stress reactions may indicate subsequent vulnerability to potentially serious health problems.”