Post-traumatic stress disorder has always been
associated with coming back from times of war however studies have shown that
having a heart attack or stroke also greatly increases the risk of suffering
from PTSD. A study done by Dr. Karie
Scrogin looked at a link between chronic heart failures and the levels of
anxiety in rats. A 2012 Time post stated
that “as many as 1 in 8 people who survive a heart attack will go on to develop
symptoms of PTSD.” (MacMillan). Scrogin’s
research provides similar support for this when she looked at the anxiety
levels of rats that underwent some cardiac surgery or had chronic heart
failure. The rats were also exposed to
an elevated plus maze to test anxiety levels. The rats with heart surgery had a higher level
of anxiety on the maze, staying away from edges and having more activity in the
open arm part which is related to more severe anxiety-like behavior. It showed that on average, rats that had the
surgery had higher arterial blood pressure which would put them more at risk if
anything were to happen to their heart. Elevated
blood pressure and increase heart rate are also symptoms of PTSD in humans. The rats’ behavior mimics symptoms from people
who have PTSD as those people also have higher anxiety levels than normal. In humans the high anxiety levels cause them
to be twice as likely to have a second heart attack or another heart related
problem within three years following the first heart attack.
Studies
like Scrogin’s are important because it gives insight on what happens in rats
after they are given heart surgery and then compare it to the human system. In Scrogin’s paper “Persistent alterations in heart rate variability, baroreflex
sensitivity, and anxiety-like behaviors during development of heart failure in
the rat”, she says that her results “suggest that the increased incidence
of panic disorder observed in human patients with heart failure may be a result
of, rather than a cause of, ventricular dysfunction”. Something I found interesting about that is
that these high anxiety levels, panic disorders, and symptoms of PTSD are
considered to be a result of heart failure. However it is also said that PTSD
increases the risk of having a second heart problem which makes me believe it
is both a cause and result of heart issues.
Scrogin mentions that “the mechanism by which heart failure affects the
central regulation of anxiety behaviors remains to be determined”. Thanks to Scrogin’s research we have a better
understanding of the human response to chronic heart failure which opens
opportunities for others to expand on her research and research the mechanisms
of how heart failure affects anxiety levels.
Perhaps once we understand those mechanisms someone will be able to then
link back to PTSD and as a society we can be better prepared to aid people who
suffer through some sort of heart issue.
Henze, M., Hart, D., Samarel, A.,
Barakat, J., Eckert, L., & Scrogin, K. (2008). Persistent alterations in
heart rate variability, baroreflex sensitivity, and anxiety-like behaviors
during development of heart failure in the rat. American Journal of
Physiology-Heart and Circulatory Physiology, 295(1), H29-H38.
MacMillan, A.
(2012, June 21). Heart Attacks Can Trigger Post-Traumatic Stress. Time. Retrieved
from http://www.healthland.time.com/2012/06/21/heart-attacks-can-trigger-post-traumatic-stress/
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