Brain activity unlocks link between stress and heart disease

It has long been known that those who experience high levels of stress are at greater risk of heart disease later in life. A new study has revealed why this occurs, and it turns out the problem starts in the brain.

Research published in The Lancet looked at data collected from 300 people and found that those with a higher level of activity in the amygdala – a deep-lying region of the brain – were more likely to develop cardiovascular disease, often sooner than others.

Many past studies have linked stress with the illness, but none have been able to discover why this happens. The team from Harvard Medical School in the US has now found that the likelihood of problems can be blamed on an increase in activity in the amygdala, which processes emotions such as fear and anger.

The researchers hypothesise that when we experience stress, our amygdala triggers our bone marrow to produce extra white blood cells, which inflames our arteries and can lead to heart attacks, angina and stroke.

Lead author Dr Ahmed Tawakol says the results of the study provides invaluable insight into how stress affects the body and gives heed to the idea that reducing stress can help us physically as well as psychologically.

Read the original BBC article at bbc.in/2jz939r