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Study Explains Why Stress Causes Heart Attacks and Strokes

By | Jun 12, 2014 08:16 AM EDT
(Photo : Flickr)

Stress and anxiety induces bacteria in the arteries to increase plaque formation leading to heart attacks and strokes, according to a study.

Researchers from the Binghamton University found stress and emotional exertion causes thin bacterial films thriving in the arterial walls to drift and rupture into the blood stream by the release of norepinephrine hormones. These reactions can narrow arterial walls and restrict blood flow resulting in strokes and atherosclerosis. For the study, experts examined various bacteria in the postmortem samples of carotid arteries of patients who died from atherosclerosis.

They observed colonies of multiple bacterial species in the plaque covered regions of the artery. These bacteria are anti-biotic resistant and remain within the scaffolding under normal conditions. But stress triggered responses spike up the release of enzymes that dissolve the bio-layer which keeps bacteria in one place and tissues that prevent plaque deposits breaking into the blood stream. These findings confirm that stress can have physiological impacts like strokes and cardiac arrests.

"Our hypothesis fitted with the observation that heart attack and stroke often occur following an event where elevated levels of catecholamine hormones are released into the blood and tissues, such as occurs during sudden emotional shock or stress, sudden exertion or over-exertion" said David Davies of Binghamton University, Binghamton

To verify the above results, the authors used silicon that traced the plaque formation in the body following an episode of stress. They also identified a common bacterial species associated with carotid arteries that dispersed when exposed to norepinephrines.

"At least one species of bacteria - Pseudomonas aeruginosa - commonly associated with carotid arteries in our studies, was able to undergo a bio-film dispersion response when exposed to norepinephrine, a hormone responsible for the fight-or-flight response in humans," said Davies

More information is available online in journal of American Society of Microbiology.

© MD News Daily.

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