Post-traumatic stress disorder: When fear strikes the heart

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) can be triggered by many harrowing events, including serious car accidents, violent personal trauma, and military combat. Over a lifetime, about 8% of adults develop PTSD, which is linked to an increased risk of heart disease. Many factors closely linked to heart disease—such as smoking, high blood pressure, and diabetes—are also common in people with PTSD, so untangling the true nature of the association has proven challenging. But repeated, long-term stress can increase blood pressure, heart rate, and inflammation, all of which can encourage clogged heart arteries. Ongoing research looking at the genetics and epidemiology of PTSD, cardiovascular disease, and their shared, related risks is under way.