Relationship between hypertension and PTSD
According to the Times of India, new studies show a link between post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and cardiovascular disease as a result of the neurological and hormonal response to chronic stress. (ANI, 2013) Post traumatic stress disorder is defined as “a mental health condition that 's triggered by a terrifying event. Symptoms may include flashbacks, nightmares and severe anxiety, as well as uncontrollable thoughts about the event.” (Staff, 2011) This actually makes a lot of sense because the body’s response to stress is to increase heart rate, which increases your blood pressure, which can increase blood flow and causing your heart to work much harder than it would in a relaxed state. PTSD has been associated with coronary heart disease and thromboembolic stroke and people with PTSD are more likely to have hypertension, hyperlipidemia, obesity and cardiovascular disease. The risks for PTSD patients should be noted because coronary heart diease can develop over time as a result of elevated blood pressure with turbulence and stress within coronary arteries and hyperlipidemia, which are associated with PTSD. Studies show that people with PTSD have increases in basal heart rate and blood pressure. (Coughlin, 2011) PTSD patients also have elevated plasma norepinephrine and 24-hour urine norepinephrine levels which are also associated with stress and anxiety. Positive links between PTSD and cardiovascular disease have been observed in a growing number of studies, but some have design limitations. PTSD can be a predictor of physician-diagnosed cardiovascular disease and the evidence suggests that PTSD increases your risk of coronary heart disease morbidity and mortality. (Coughlin, 2011) This information makes sense again because an elevated blood pressure and stress in your arteries can cause your heart to work harder and increase stress hormones and your body’s response to these hormones. A recent study of PTSD and cardiovascular disease measured
Bibliography: ANI. (2013, October 3). Health and Fitness. Retrieved October 16, 2013, from Times of India: http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2013-10-03/health/42663405_1_heart-disease-risk-ptsd-metabolic-syndrome Coughlin, S. S. (2011, July 11). Post Traumatic Stress Disorderand Cardiovascular Disease. Retrieved October 17, 2013, from NCBI: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3141329/ RJ Gerardi, T. K. (1994, November). NCBI. AN in vivo assessment of physiological arousal in posttraumatic stress disorder . Boston, MA. Staff, M. C. (2011, April 8). Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. Retrieved October 16, 2013, from Mayo Clinic: http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/post-traumatic-stress-disorder/DS00246