Stress increases 'risk of death five-fold'

Stress increases the chances of dying from heart-related problems by five-fold, a
study has found.

Stress increases the risk of dying, research has found.

By Rebecca Smith, Medical Editor
09 Sep 2010

Researchers have found that people aged 65 or older were five times more likely to die
within the six year follow-up period if they had high levels of stress hormones.

They were more likely to die from cardiovascular disease, such as heart attacks, heart failure and strokes, but not more likely to die from other causes such as cancer, it was found.

Short-term stress is thought to be good for health but chronic long-term stress can lead to
damage in the lining of the blood vessels.

Stress can also raise blood pressure and cholesterol which are known to be harmful to the
heart and stressed people tend to eat a poorer diet and may be more likely to smoke.

Researchers at VU University Medical Center in The Netherlands, measured levels of the
stress hormone, cortisol, in the urine of 861 people aged 65 or older. The measurement was
taken once over a 24-hour period.

They were then tracked for six years and any deaths recorded.

It was found that those with the highest levels of cortisol in their urine were five times more likely to die of cardiovascular disease than those with the lowest levels.

They took into account other factors that could influence cardiovascular disease, such as
socio-economic status, health problems such as obesity and high blood pressure and lifestyle factors such as smoking

The findings are due to be published in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism.

Dr Nicole Vogelzangs, lead author of the study, said: "Previous studies have suggested that
cortisol might increase the risk of cardiovascular mortality, but until now, no study had
directly tested this hypothesis.

"The results of our study clearly show that cortisol levels in a general older population
predict cardiovascular death, but not other causes of mortality.

"Cortisol is an important component of the stress system of the human body but in higher
concentrations can be harmful.

"Our study shows that older persons with high levels of cortisol have an increased risk of
dying from cardiovascular disease. This finding significantly adds evidence to the belief that
cortisol can be damaging to the cardiovascular system."

One in three of all deaths in Britain are caused by cardiovascular disease, accounting for
more than 200,000 deaths per year.

Ellen Mason, Senior Cardiac Nurse at the British Heart Foundation, said: “Stress is already
associated with an increased risk of heart disease and this study throws up more evidence
about the role of cortisol.

“However, there are other chemicals in our body besides cortisol which play a part when
we’re stressed out. So although this study helps, there is still a lot left to learn.

“It’s important we all try and find ways to cope with stress which don’t involve unhealthy
habits that increase your risk of heart disease, such as smoking, drinking too much alcohol
and eating foods high in saturated fat and salt.”