Accounts of the heart

2010/05/22 Galarraga Aiestaran, Ana - Elhuyar Zientzia

• Anatomia/Fisiologia
• Osasuna

In view of this, he expected more than one to take the last issue of the European Heart Journal. In fact, it is the most prestigious journal in Europe specializing in cardiology, and in its recent issue two articles stand out, not for their surprising consequences, but because they give us reason to many. In one of the articles, it is explained that making extraordinary hours at work is a bad heart and in the other, positive emotions protect us from heart disease.

The results of the last phase of the Whitehall II study are shown in the first article. This study began in 1985 with 10,308 offices in London. In 1991-1994, a question was asked about working hours and the data of 6,014 people who have followed for 11 years in the last phase were collected. Of these people, one in every 2.5 were women and were between 39 and 61 years old.

The study has shown that those who did between 3 and 4 extra hours had 60% more cardiovascular problems than those who had normal days. Deepening the data, the researchers found that people who performed between 3 and 4 hours a day more than others had a similar character: they were aggressive and competitive, depended on time and, in general, had hostile behaviors. At the same time they were at risk of insomnia, anxiety, and depression. In addition, researchers believe that this type of people, despite the symptoms of disease, tend to go to work.

All this can explain why the realization of extraordinary hours increases the risk of suffering an infarction, but researchers warn that they have not demonstrated a direct causal effect. For example, and among other factors, they have not analysed what would happen if overtime were eliminated.

However, Gordon McInnes, Professor of Pharmacology at the University of Glasgow, considers the study to be of great importance. According to him, it would be convenient for doctors to pay special attention to prevention, making theirs the words of the philosopher Bertrand Russell: "If I were a doctor, I send a public holiday to every patient who considers that work is important."

Joy, for the heart

The analysis of Article 2 was carried out by researchers of the Institute of Cardiovascular Health of Columbia University, with 1,739 people from Nova Scotia (half women and half men, approximately). It lasted ten years and in that time, in addition to clinical data, they collected satisfaction or optimism from participants on a scale of 0 to 5.

The result is that those who are not optimistic have a 22% more risk of suffering an infarction than those who are a little optimistic, and the latter 22% more than those who are moderately optimistic. In addition, the most optimistic in general is not affected by the fact that there is a small chopera or depression.

When interpreting the results, the researchers have taken into account various pathophysiological mechanisms, but have recognized that they should still continue to deepen. Meanwhile, just in case, we will try to follow the title they have put to the article: "Dont worry, be happy."

Published in Gara