REUTERS: People who suffer from conditions like post-traumatic stress disorder may be more likely to develop cardiovascular disease, a Swedish study suggests, and the risk may be greatest in the months right after stress disorders are diagnosed.
"Medical providers should be aware that these vulnerable populations may suffer heightened risks of various cardiovascular diseases, which calls for enhanced clinical awareness/monitoring and, perhaps, early intervention among patients with recently diagnosed stress-related disorders," Song said by email.
While researchers did account for several factors that can contribute to cardiovascular disease like family background, medical history and underlying psychiatric conditions, it's still possible that some unmeasured stress-coping behaviours like smoking and drinking might have also influenced the results, the authors note.