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GAPE. GAZ]STYE, Friday, June 9--dune-15; +2000.45
HEALTH & FITNESS
Study shows anger increases heart attack risk
A person who is most prone to
anger is about three times more
likely to have a heart attack or
sudden cardiac death than some-
one who is less prone to anger,
according to a new study pub-
lished in "Circulation: Journal of
the American Heart Association."
Dr. Janice E. Williams, lead
author of the study conducted at
the University of North Carolina
at Chapel Hill, said the findings
were true for individuals with nor-
mal blood pressure levels but not
those with high blood pressure.-
"The implications of our study
are that anger could potentially
lead to heart attacks, especially
among middle-aged men and
women with normal blood pres-
sure," she said.
The researchers said there has
"always been a suspicion that
emotional states such as anger,
anxiety and depression have an
impact on health. Now, we're bet-
ter able to document the associa-
tion with the use of follow-up
studies like this one."
During the six-year study, 256
individuals had heart attacks.
Individuals who were the most
prone to anger were 2.69 times
more likely to have a heart attack
or sudden death than those with
the lowest anger ratings on a 40-
point scale.
Individuals who scored moder-
ate were 35 percent more likely to
experience a coronary event.
"These findings were also true
even after taking into account the
presence of risk factors such as
smoking, having diabetes, choles-
terol levels and excess .weight,"
she said.
The study used a prospective
design. In this kind of study
design, individuals are free of
heart disease at the beginning of
the study. Prospective studies
provide more convincing evi-
dence than many other types of
studies because they show that
anger precedes the heart attack
and is not a consequence of ill
health.
Heart attacks occur when a
blood vessel is blocked by a blood
clot that forms on a plaque, a col-
lection of fat on the blood vessel.
Stress hormones, which con-
strict blood vessels, may make the
plaque more prone to rupture,
resulting in a blood clot that
blocks the heart artery.
Researchers analyzed data from
nearly 13,000 people who were
followed for up to six years as part
of the Atherosclerosis Risk in
Communities (ARIC) study in
four locations: Washington
County, Md.; suburban Minne-
apolis, Minn.; Forsyth County,
N.C.; and Jackson, Miss.
Anger was measured by a 10-
item questionnaire called the
Speiiberger Trait Anger Scale.
Some of the questions asked if
the individuals were hot-headed,
quick-tempered, or if they felt like
hitting someone when they got
angry and felt annoyed when not
given recognition for doing good
work.
Individuals were given a score
of one to 40, according to their
answers to the questions. The
average score was 16. About 8
percent Of the individuals scored
high, 55 percent scored moderate,
and 37 percent scored low.
Higher scorers were slightly
younger, more likely to be men
and have less than a high school
education than participants who
were moderate or low scorers.
High scorers were also more
likely to be smokers and drinkers.
Researchers did not find any
racial differences in the associa-
tion between anger and coronary
events.
"The lack of an increase in heart
attacks among individuals who
had high blood pressure and high
anger could have been due to the
fact that high blood pressure alone
is associated with heart disease
and an anger-prone personality
had little further effect," said
Williams.
Researchers said stress manage-
ment may help anger-prone indi-
viduals develop better coping
skills to deal with their response
to anger-provoking situations.
Editor's note: Co-authors of
this article include Catherine C.
Paton, Dr. llene C. Siegler, Dr.
Marsha L. Eigenbrodt, Dr. E
Javier Nieto, and Dr. Herman A.
Tyroler. Information provided by
the American Heart Association.
Auxiliary supports women's health
The Beebe Medical Center Auxiliary recently presented
Beebe president, Jeffrey M. Fried, with a check for $115,000
toward the Women's Imaging Center planned for the new
Beebe Health Campus.
The check was presented during the auxiliary's annual
luncheon at the Lamp Post. The auxiliary also installed its
slate of new officers.
Shown standing are (I-r) Betty Pratt, auxiliary president;
Jeffrey Fried, Beebe Medical Center president and CEO;
Nancy Kratz, assistant treasurer; Madeline Nelson, recording
secretary; and Carol Blades, second vice president.
In front are Gloria Dill, vice president; Dorothy Marshall,
member at-large; and Florence Wingate, treasurer.
In addition to raising money to benefit Beebe Medical
Center, many members also volunteer their time working af
the hospital information desk, gift shop, and other areas.
Construction is expected to begin for Beebe's new Route 24
outpatient health ampus in Rehoboth Beach by the end of
this r. " : .......
The project is intended to offer dedicated outpatient serv-
ices and increase space for emergency and inpatient servic
at the Lewes hospital site.
Submitted photo
Bayside Health offers safel7 tips for children
With the summer season
approaching, Bayside Health has
issued some tips for parents to
assist medical personnel should
their child need medical treatment
while away at camp or out of town
with Grandma and Grandpa.
Medical personnel obviously
want what is best for a child, and
although everyone hopes nothing
happens while a child is away
from their home, accidents do
happen.
There are a few things that par-
ents can do before their child goes
away tO camp or with relatives
that can make any medical per-
sonnel's job a little easier.
• Send a note authorizing con-
sent. for medical treatment for
your child.
Often children go to camp or
out-of-town with relatives during
the summer. As a minor, a child
needs a guardian or parent to sign
for consent of medical treatment,
except in the case of a life or death
emergency.
A note authorizing a relative or
camp representative to consent for
medical treatment will save time
and allow medical personnel to
treat a child more rapidly.
• If a child is cov6red by health
insurance, send a copy of the front
and back of the card.
If a child needs medical care
and he or she is covered by a
health insurance policy, having a
copy of the card available will
assist medical personnel in verify-
ing the insurance coverage and
benefit and may save a temporary
caregiver from having to pay the
bill up front.
If there is a copay required for
an office visit, this should be paid
when the doctor sees the child as
well.
Contracts with health insurance
companies specifically state that
cards must be presented at the
time of service.
• Send a list of pertinent health
history information.
This would include information
about allergies, any medical con-
ditions such as asthma, diabetes
and epilepsy, a list of current med-
ications, a list of immunizations,
including the date of the last
tetanus shot, any surgeries or hos-
pitalizations and the name and
phone number of the child's pri-
mary physician.
This information could make
diagnosing a child faster and easi-
er and may save them from
unnecessary shots or tests.
• Don't forget the basics. These
include sunscreen, a hat, insect
repellent and a sweatshirt. Making
sure a child is adequately protect-
ed from the elements when out-
doors could save a trip to the doc-
tor later.
HEALTH TOPICS
GINA HUN.(ilCKER
Gina Hunsicker is the office
manager at Bayside Health
Association. For more infor-
mation, call 645-4700.