Evidence linking emotion to sudden cardiac death continues to increase* Epidemiological studies reveal that psychological stress increases sudden death from cardiac complications in populations during emotionally devastating disasters, such as earthquakes or wars [1,2]. For example, on the day of the Northridge earthquake in Los Angeles (CA, USA) in 1994, there was a sharp rise in the number of deaths related to atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease as well as sudden deaths - 24 sudden cardiac deaths compared with four on an average day. Only three of these 24 deaths occurred with exertion, such as cleaning debris, suggesting emotional rather than physical stress as the trigger. The daily number of deaths related to cardiovascular disease declined in the 6 days after thetearthquake. Similar nontraumatic increases irfmortality were noted during the Iraqi missile crises in Israel in 1981 [2].
展开▼
