Heart Health
Post-traumatic stress disorder: When fear strikes the heart
PTSD is linked to a higher risk of cardiovascular disease, but experts are still untangling the connection.
Over the course of a lifetime, many people directly experience or witness harrowing events. These include serious car accidents, violent personal trauma (including sexual assault), natural or human-made disasters, and military combat. Life-threatening health conditions — such as a sudden cardiac arrest, a devastating stroke, or any illness that requires a prolonged stay in the ICU — can also leave people traumatized.
As many as one in five people with such histories experience short-term post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). This debilitating mental health condition is characterized by recurrent, frightening episodes during which people relive the traumatic event. Some go on to develop long-term symptoms (see "Understanding PTSD"). Over all, about 8% of all people will develop PTSD during their lifetime, which may leave them vulnerable to other health problems.
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About the Author
Julie Corliss, Executive Editor, Harvard Heart Letter
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