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WEDNESDAY, Aug. 26, 2020 (HealthDay News)<\/p>\n
Middle-aged men who were anxious or depressed<\/a> teens<\/a> are at increased risk for heart attack<\/a>, according to a large, long-term study.<\/p>\n It included more than 238,000 men born between 1952 and 1956 who underwent extensive exams when they were 18 or 19 years old and were followed to age 58.<\/p>\n Men diagnosed with anxiety<\/a> or depression<\/a> in their late teens<\/a> had a 20% higher risk of heart<\/a> attack than those who didn’t, the study showed.<\/p>\n The findings only reflect an association. The link was partly, but not fully, explained by poorer ability to cope with everyday stress<\/a> and lower physical fitness<\/a> in teens with the mental health<\/a> conditions, according to findings presented Wednesday at a virtual meeting of the European Society of Cardiology.<\/p>\n The takeaway: “Be vigilant and look for signs of stress<\/a>, depression<\/a> or anxiety<\/a> that is beyond the normal teenage angst: Seek help if there seems to be a persistent problem,” suggested study author Cecilia Bergh, a senior lecturer in health sciences at Orebro University in Sweden.<\/p>\n “If a healthy lifestyle is encouraged as early as possible in childhood and adolescence it is more likely to persist into adulthood and improve long-term health,” she said in a meeting news release.<\/p>\n Bergh said researchers already knew that men who were physically fit but stressed as teens seemed less likely to maintain fitness<\/a>.<\/p>\n “Our previous research has also shown that low stress<\/a> resilience is also coupled with a greater tendency towards addictive behavior, signaled by higher risks of smoking<\/a>, alcohol<\/a> consumption and other drug use<\/a>,” she noted.<\/p>\n Better fitness<\/a> in youth is likely to protect against heart disease<\/a>, particularly if people stay fit as they age, Bergh said, adding that exercise<\/a> may also alleviate negative consequences of stress<\/a>.<\/p>\n “This is relevant to all adolescents, but those with poorer well-being could benefit from additional support to encourage exercise<\/a> and to develop strategies to deal with stress,” she said.<\/p>\n Research presented at meetings is typically considered preliminary until published in a peer-reviewed journal.<\/p>\n — Robert Preidt<\/p>\n![\"MedicalNews\"](\"https:\/\/images.medicinenet.com\/images\/HealthDay\/healthday.png\")
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