Research indicates no significant variation in stress as a risk factor for coronary heart disease between males and females.
In a groundbreaking development, a new study published in the American Journal of Cardiology has demonstrated a correlation between urinary stress hormones and the buildup of plaque in the arteries, a key indicator of Coronary Heart Disease (CHD). The research, conducted by a team from UCLA and the University of Washington, offers valuable insights into the role of stress hormones in CHD and suggests that there may be sex differences in the effects of stress on the heart.
Heart disease is the leading cause of death in the United States, underscoring the importance of understanding its causes and risk factors. This study, which forms part of the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis, a large, ongoing population-based investigation of cardiovascular risk factors, aimed to shed light on the relationship between urinary stress hormones and CHD.
The study investigated the relationship between four urinary stress hormones - dopamine, epinephrine, norepinephrine, and cortisol - and CHD. The participants provided urine samples for one 12-hour overnight period, and the samples were analyzed for levels of these hormones. The participants also underwent CT scans of their chests to determine the amount of calcium visible in their coronary arteries and compute their Coronary Artery Calcium (CAC) score, a strong predictor of CHD risk.
The findings revealed that urinary cortisol was a strong independent predictor of asymptomatic CHD. Interestingly, the study also found that dopamine, a stress hormone, was inversely related to heart risk. Higher levels of dopamine were associated with a lower chance of having any coronary calcium.
The study's authors, including Rachel Zipursky, Dr. Marcella Calfon Press, Dr. Preethi Srikanthan, Jeff Gornbein, Dr. Karol Watson, Dr. Tamara Horwich, and Robyn McClelland, emphasize that while this research provides important insights, further studies are needed to definitively answer the question of the relationship between urinary stress hormones and actual cardiovascular events, such as heart attacks or strokes.
The funding for this study was provided by the National Institutes of Health, and the authors have no conflicts of interest to disclose. The researchers plan to delve deeper into this area, investigating the relationship between urinary stress hormones and actual cardiovascular events in the future.
Stress is increasingly recognized as a major risk factor for CHD. This study adds to the growing body of evidence suggesting that stress hormones may play a significant role in the development and progression of CHD. However, more research is needed to fully understand the complex interplay between stress, hormones, and heart health.
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