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Before 1900, Coronary Heart Disease was an infrequent killer, but by 1950 it became the leading cause of death throughout North America, and remains so today. In addition to hypertension and family history, many behavioral and physiological factors, such as smoking, obesity, a high fat diet, physical inactivity and an elevated cholesterol level, increase the risk of heart disease. The psychological factors of stress and personality also play a large role.
Type A and B
During the 1950s, an idea circulated that stress had a role in increased heart disease. To prove this theory, a nine-year study was begun by cardiologists Meyer Friedman (1910-2001) and Ray Rosenman (1920-2013). More than 3,000 healthy men aged 35-59 were interviewed about their work habits, their behavior, their way of talking, etc. Those who seemed the most competitive, impatient, verbally aggressive and easily angered were dubbed Type A. The roughly equal number who were more easy going were called Type B.
Once completed, this study showed that over 250 men had experienced heart attacks. 69 percent of them were Type A. None of the “pure” Type Bs, i.e., the most calm and relaxed members of the group suffered any heart attacks.
Type A’s More Reactive
In relaxed situations it was noted, the arousal of Type As and Type Bs is no different. But when harassed, challenged or threatened with loss of control, Type A individuals are more physiologically reactive. Their blood pressure, pulse rate and hormone secretions rise dramatically, while Type Bs suffer no such effects (Lyness, 1993). As an example, when Redford Jones (1989) asked Duke University men to do simple math problems (with a prize for being the fastest), the Type A students’ stress-hormone levels rose to more than double that of the Type B classmates. These stress hormones boost plaque deposits on the artery walls. This in turn produces hardening of the arteries (Atherosclerosis), high blood pressure, and increased risk of strokes and heart attacks (Schneiderman et al, 1989).
Hearts and Minds
Studies suggest that reactive Type A individuals are more often “combat ready.” When harassed or challenged, their active Sympathetic Nervous systems redistributes blood flow to the muscles and away from internal organs such as the liver, which removes cholesterol and fat that later gets deposited around the heart. This can cause sudden death (Kamarck & Jennings, 1991). In important ways, our hearts and minds interact.
Anger Can Hurt You
More recent research revealed that Type As’ toxic core is negative emotions – especially anger (Smith & Ruiz, 2002, Williams, 1993). Those young and middle-aged adults who react with anger over the slightest little thing are the most prone to coronary disease. One five-year study of 13,000 middle-aged people found that those with normal blood pressure, and who were easily angered, were three times more likely to experience a heart attack. Another study of 1,055 male medical students over a 36-year time period reported those who were hot-tempered were five times more likely to have a heart attack by age 55 (Chang Et al., 2002).
Rage seems to lash back and strike us in the heart muscle.
This report is not a diagnosis. We hope this information can guide you toward improving your life.
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