NEWS - Anger or startling event may trigger stroke

December 14, 2004

Anger or startling event may trigger stroke

Last Updated: 2004-12-13 16:00:29 -0400 (Reuters Health)

NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - Negative emotions and anger, as well as

sudden changes in body position in response to a startling event, appear

to be factors that can trigger a stroke, according to a new study

published in the medical journal Neurology.

" We know a lot about risk factors that make people more likely to have a

stroke in their lifetime, such as smoking and high blood pressure, but

until now we haven't had any information on what causes a stroke to

occur at a particular time, " lead author Dr. Silvia Koton, from Tel Aviv

University in Israel, said in a statement.

The findings are based on a study of 200 stroke patients who were

interviewed about potential triggers one to four days after the event.

The study focused on a variety of possible triggers, including negative

and positive emotions, anger, posture changes, heavy physical exertion,

heavy eating, and sudden temperature changes.

At least one trigger was identified in 38 percent of the subjects in the

two hours prior to stroke onset, the researchers note.

The presence of at least one of the seven triggers raised the risk of

stroke by more than eight-fold.

However, the risks seen with the individual triggers varied greatly,

ranging from a four-fold increased risk for positive emotions and heavy

eating to a 24-fold increased risk for sudden posture change in response

to a startling event.

In addition to sudden posture change, anger and negative emotions were

the strongest stroke triggers, each raising the risk by 14-fold.

" The main modifiable risk factors for stroke are high blood pressure,

smoking, diabetes, [high cholesterol], and obesity, " Koton noted.

" However, this study demonstrates that there are factors that may

trigger the premature onset of stroke and this is an important area of

potential intervention. "

SOURCE: Neurology, December 14, 2004

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