Social Factors Impact Risk For Heart Attack and Disease

by Redford B. Williams, Ph.D.

Socially isolated, unmarried or other people without good social relations are at an increased risk for developing cardiovascular disease. They also are at greater risk to have recurrent heart problems once the disease already exists.

In a study of 1,368 patients with coronary disease at Duke University, Dr. Williams found that 50 percent of the patients who reported feeling very isolated were not married and had no one in whom they could confide died within five years.

During the same time span, only 17 percent of those with either a spouse or confidant died. "These higher death rates among socially isolated heart patients could not be explained by any differences in the severity of the underlying heart disease," said Dr. Williams.

Much of the current research shows that those who harbor too much hostility - a general mistrust, frequent angry feelings and aggressive behavior - and those who suffer from depression have a lot more trouble initiating and maintaining social relations.

"Hostility drives people away and depression keeps a person from wanting any social interactions," says Dr. Williams. "Also, having a job that places a high demand on producing a product or service with very little decision-making power has also been found to further fuel hostility, depression and social isolation. These four factors can definitely increase one's risk for cardiovascular disease," he said.

"Add some stress to this picture and you end up with a person with increased adrenaline, cortisol and blood pressure levels and an overwhelming desire to fight off the stressors. It can also lead to more smoking and alcohol use to relieve the feelings of stress," said Dr. Williams.

"The news is not all bad," said Dr. Williams. "Clinical trials research have shown that interventions that provide social supports directly or training in anger management and communication skills that enhance a patient's ability to obtain social support lead to improved prognosis in heart patients."

"And laboratory research shows cardiovascular responses to acute mental stressors can be reduced when social support is provided to the experimental subjects," concluded Dr. Williams. "People need to realize that they do need each other to stay healthy."

This information received from the American Psychological Association (APA), in Washington, DC.