Six Heart Attack Triggers You Didn’t Know
It’s safe to say that the average person knows the risks of a heart attack, but these six triggers are more common than you think.
1. Sudden, intense outbursts of anger: Researchers Dr. Thomas Buckley of Sydney Nursing School and Professor Geoffrey Tofler of the University of Sydney recently did a study of 313 heart attack patients and found that a heart attack was 8.5 times more likely to happen two hours after an intense bout of anger than after an average two hour period.
Buckley and Tofler, however, concluded that anger-induced heart attacks are rare; only two percent of the participants in their study had been enraged right before their heart episode. They also state that in order to avoid heart disease events triggered by intense outbursts, they suggested that people who smoke, have elevated blood pressure or have elevated cholesterol find ways to control their emotions.
2. Acute anxiety: In the same study, Buckley and Tofler also found that an episode of acute anxiety was also associated with a 9.5 times greater risk of heart attack two hours later. Stating it is most likely due to increased heart rate, blood pressure, tightening of blood vessels and increased clotting, all are factors associated with triggering heart attacks.
The researchers recommended that people most at risk of heart attacks proactively avoid activities that trigger anxiety, as well as seek out stress reduction training to limit anger and anxiety responses.
3. An unusual physical activity: Every winter, thousands of people are injured when shoveling snow. There is an average of 11,500 injuries each year related to snow shoveling. The cold, vessel-constricting air and strenuous physical exertion can be a deadly combination for those with already weakened hearts.
If you’re going to shovel snow, the American Heart Association suggests taking frequent rest breaks and using a smaller shovel. They also frown on eating heavy meals and drinking alcohol before and after shoveling.
4. A between-the-sheets session: A steamy sex session can send you to the emergency room for certain at-risk individuals. Although researchers say that the number of sex related heart attacks is fairly small, sex was linked to a 2.7 increased relative risk of heart attack compared to periods when the participants weren’t having sex. The most dangerous part of sex for people with pre-existing coronary artery disease is when the blood and heart pressure rates rise significantly.
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They also say sexual activity is an important part of mental and physical health, and should try to be preserved as much as possible — even for people with weakened hearts. The American Heart Association recommends that people should work with their doctors to stabilize their heart health before having sex.
5. Substance abuse: Heart attacks can also be triggered by abusing drugs or alcohol. Too much alcohol can raise triglyceride levels and blood pressure, as well as cause people to eat too much.
These risk factors can lead to heart disease and sudden cardiac events.
6. Unusually heavy meals: Sitting down to a big meal can be dangerous if you’re at risk for a cardiac event. A U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs researcher found that people at risk of heart disease were four times more likely to have a heart attack two hours after a big meal.
Heavy meals act in a number of ways to trigger a heart attack. The simple act of eating food increases heart rate and blood pressure, according to Science Daily. Fatty acids from food entering the bloodstream as well or rising insulin rates could constrict coronary arteries triggering a heart attack.
More common factors of increased risk of heart attacks are issues such as obesity, diabetes, hypertension and stress. Many of these are linked to higher blood pressure, putting added stress on the heart and its valves. When health care systems and their patients follow simple steps, you can lower blood pressure and help prevent many of the nearly 1,000 deaths a day in the U.S. as a result of high blood pressure related deaths.
