Published in Journal of the American Heart Association, researchers at Boston University investigated the link between cardiometabolic health and anxiety.
Using data from the Normative Aging Study from the Department of Veterans Affairs. they sampled 1,561 individuals, all adult male, of whom had submitted cardiometabolic biomarkers every 3-5 years.
These biomarkers included: blood pressure, fast tryglcerides, fasting cholesterol, BMI, fasting blood glucose, and erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), an inflammation indicator.
In addition to the biomarkers, subjects had also completed a test, the Eysenck Personality Inventory, which assessed neuroticism.
Adjusting for several factors, including demographic, researchers found that neuroticism was linked to 13% higher chance of having six or more cardiometabolic disease factors. Also, those with higher levels of neuroticism was tied to fewer years in education and higher levels of smoking and drinking.
Overall, the study found anxious individuals experience worsening cardiometabolic health earlier in life than those who are less anxious.
“Biologically, anxiety may influence disease risk factors through frequent activation of our physiological stress response, such as by raising heart rate and blood pressure, triggering the release of cortisol (a stress hormone), and not providing sufficient opportunities for [the] body to recover,” stated leaded author, Dr. Lewina Lee. “Over time, this kind of wear and tear can result in physiological abnormalities, such as high blood pressure or chronic inflammation, which are known risk factors for cardiometabolic disease.” she continued.
From a men’s health standpoint, it’s really important that men live a life directed towards personal development and have available, healthy tools to navigate different mental stresses in life.
L Lee et al. Neuroticism, worry, and cardiometabolic risk trajectories: findings from a 40-year study of men. Journal of the American Heart Association. Ahead of print: 01/24/2022. https://doi.org/10.1161/JAHA.121.022006
