Heart attack is one of the leading causes of death worldwide. Majority of the time, people focus on physical factors such as obesity, high blood pressure, and cholesterol as the primary causes of heart attack.

However, did you know that your personality also plays a critical role in determining your risk of heart attack?.

Studies have shown that individuals with specific personality traits have a higher risk of experiencing heart attacks compared to others. Below are the personality traits that can increase the risk of heart attack:.

Type A Personality

Individuals with type A personality are known to have an intense and competitive nature. They have a time urgency and always try to complete their tasks within harsh deadlines and in a perfect manner.

People with type A personality have a higher risk of suffering from stress, anxiety, depression, and other emotional states that affect the cardiovascular system.

Research has shown that type A personality is associated with a higher risk of ischemic heart disease. This is a condition where the blood supply to the heart is restricted resulting in a shortage of oxygen and nutrients.

Individuals with this type of personality are also more likely to have a heart attack at an early age.

Hostility and Anger

People who are chronically hostile and angry are at a greater risk of developing heart disease. Hostility includes various characteristics such as aggression, anger, cynicism, and distrust.

These traits can elevate the blood pressure, which increases the stress on the heart, leading to a heart attack.

A study conducted by the University of Helsinki, Finland, showed that hostility is a predictor of heart disease independent of traditional risk factors such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and obesity.

Neuroticism

Neuroticism refers to the extent to which a person experiences negative emotions like anxiety, fear, and insecurity. These emotions activate the body’s stress response, leading to an increase in blood pressure and heart rate.

Prolonged activation of the stress response due to neuroticism can result in damage to the cardiovascular system and increase the risk of heart attack.

A study conducted by Vanderbilt University Medical Center showed that people with high levels of neuroticism have a higher risk of developing heart disease compared to those with low levels.

Perfectionism

Perfectionism is the desire to achieve extremely high standards. People with this trait are excessively self-critical and may often experience stress when their expectations are not met.

Perfectionism is a risk factor for heart attack since it can lead to high levels of stress and anxiety.

A study conducted by the University of Georgia found that perfectionism increases the risk of developing heart disease by 2.5 times among women compared to those without this trait.

The quality of social support plays a significant role in determining the risk of developing heart disease. People who lack social support or who perceive it as insufficient are at a higher risk of heart attack.

Social support reduces stress, enhances self-efficacy and provides a sense of belonging.

A study conducted by the Harvard School of Public Health showed that women who had a low level of social support had a 65% higher risk of heart disease.

Emotion Suppression

Emotion suppression refers to the deliberate attempt to inhibit or conceal emotions, particularly negative emotions. Emotional suppression activates the body’s stress response, leading to an increase in blood pressure.

Over time, this can lead to hypertension, and eventually lead to heart disease.

A study published in the Journal of Psychosomatic Research found that emotion suppression is related to cardiovascular reactivity. Cardiovascular reactivity is an increase in heart rate and blood pressure that occurs during stress.

The higher the cardiovascular reactivity, the higher the risk of heart disease.

Conclusion

In conclusion, personality traits can significantly increase the risk of heart attack. Personality is a critical factor in the prevention and management of heart disease.

Identifying individuals with these traits helps to stratify their risks and hence appropriate interventions made. Such interventions include counseling, behavior adjustments as well as pharmacotherapy.