Men with a family history of heart disease seem to score highly on the stress symptom scale.

Psychological stress is a known risk factor for heart disease. An interesting new study from Henry Ford Hospital in the US suggests that this propensity to suffer with stress symptoms may even be inherited.

A group of 100 men and women with known heart disease were asked about their family history. They also completed a 58 item check list for stress symptoms, including irritation, anger, impatience and worry. The study found that family history of heart disease was more important for men than women. Men with a family history had a diagnosis of heart problems an average of 12 years earlier than those with no family history.

And men with a family history of heart disease were more likely to have higher stress symptoms scores than those without a family history. Their anger ratings were especially likely to be on the high side. This suggests that maybe the propensity to 'fly off the handle' is, in some way, inherited. Maybe men with early onset heart disease should be offered a psychological assessment? They could be offered relaxation training, and advice on coping with stress in an effort to improve their heart condition.

Source

American Psychosomatic Society Meeting 6th March 2003