Can personality affect heart disease risk?

People with type D personalities are anxious, irritable, and angry. They also tend to feel ill at ease in social situations and uncomfortable opening up to others—and they have a higher-than-average risk for heart disease. The negative emotions that characterize Type D temperaments trigger the stress response. Repeated surges of stress hormones in the body can cause blood pressure to rise and make the blood more likely to clot. Stress also activates the immune system, triggering inflammation that damages blood vessels.