Natural and Unnatural Triggers of Myocardial Infarction

Previous analyses have suggested that factors that stimulate the sympathetic nervous system and catecholamine release can trigger acute myocardial infarction. The wake-up time, Mondays, winter season, physical exertion, emotional upset, overeating, lack of sleep, cocaine, marijuana, anger, and sexua...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Published in:Progress in cardiovascular diseases 2006, Vol.48 (4), p.285-300
Main Author: Kloner, Robert A.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Age Factors
Aged
Aged, 80 and over
Biological and medical sciences
California - epidemiology
Cardiology. Vascular system
Cause of Death
Coronary heart disease
Death, Sudden, Cardiac - epidemiology
Female
Heart
Humans
Life Change Events
Male
Medical sciences
Middle Aged
Myocardial Infarction - etiology
Myocardial Infarction - mortality
Myocardial Infarction - physiopathology
Myocarditis. Cardiomyopathies
Prevalence
Risk Assessment
Seasons
Severity of Illness Index
Sex Factors
Stress, Psychological
Survival Analysis
Citations: Items that this one cites
Items that cite this one
Online Access:Get full text
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
Description
Summary:Previous analyses have suggested that factors that stimulate the sympathetic nervous system and catecholamine release can trigger acute myocardial infarction. The wake-up time, Mondays, winter season, physical exertion, emotional upset, overeating, lack of sleep, cocaine, marijuana, anger, and sexual activity are some of the more common triggers. Certain natural disasters such as earthquakes and blizzards have also been associated with an increase in cardiac events. Certain unnatural triggers may play a role including the Holiday season. Holiday season cardiac events peak on Christmas and New Year. A number of hypotheses have been raised to explain the increase in cardiac events during the holidays, including overeating, excessive use of salt and alcohol, exposure to particulates, from fireplaces, a delay in seeking medical help, anxiety or depression related to the holidays, and poorer staffing of health care facilities at this time. War has been associated with an increase in cardiac events. Data regarding an increase in cardiac events during the 9/11 terrorist attack have been mixed. Understanding the cause of cardiovascular triggers will help in developing potential therapies.
ISSN:0033-0620
1532-8643
DOI:10.1016/j.pcad.2005.07.001