Episode 271
Why stress causes heart attacks
Scientists have discovered why stress is so harmful to the heart.
Naked Scientists, In Short Special Editions Podcast · The Naked Scientists
June 25, 20145m 19s
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Show Notes
You've probably heard the idea that stress gives you a heart attack, and we certainly know that it is a risk factor, along with things like high blood pressure, high cholesterol, obesity and smoking. But exactly how stress affects the body to increase the chances of having a heart attack is a bit of a mystery. Now a team of US and German scientists think they might have figured it out. It turns out that stress increases the number of immune cells, known as white blood cells, in atherosclerotic plaques - the fatty blobs that clog up your veins and give you a dicky ticker. Lead researcher... Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists
Topics
heartattackswhite blood cellsbloodcardiovascularstress