Mental health conditions that may develop following a traumatic incident could contribute to a higher risk of future cardiovascular issues such as non-fatal heart attack and stroke or a fatal cardiac event, according to new research.
“Experiencing traumatic events can significantly affect mental health as well as cardiovascular health. “After a traumatic life experience, individuals may turn to alcohol to cope and help manage their emotions. Psychological conditions that can arise after a traumatic event connected to a higher risk of heart and brain conditions in the future included PTSD, mental disorders caused by brain or physical issues, non-substance-induced confusion, different substance use disorders, personality disorders, schizophrenia, bipolar disorder and anxiety disorders.
The study, published in the Journal of the American Heart Association , examined national health registries in Denmark, looking at 2,19,866 adults who did and did not develop major heart or brain conditions following a traumatic event. Researchers compared 1,75,872 people who experienced a trauma but not a cardiovascular event to peers who experienced a heart attack, stroke, procedures to restore blood flow to the heart or cardiovascular death during the 24-year period. A wide range of mental health conditions were considered as possible cardiovascular predictors, and machine learning was used to identify the 15 most important mental health disorder predictors of heart and brain outcomes.
our research suggests that we should think about a wide range of mental health consequences when looking at cardiovascular disease risk after trauma,” Sumner said Although most work to date has focused on PTSD and cardiovascular health. Over time, this new behaviour might develop into alcohol abuse, thus increasing their risk of a serious heart or brain condition,” Sumner said.
