Researchers studying 313 healthy Vietnam veterans have found that anger, depression and hostility may increase the risk for cardiovascular disease, diabetes and high blood pressure.
Over a period of tem years, the men had regular physical examinations involving a wide variety of medical tests. They also underwent psychological examinations using well-established questionnaires to determine their levels of hostility, anger and depression.
The researchers measured blood levels of a protein called C3, a marker for the inflammation that is a risk factor for cardiovascular illnesses. After controlling for other variables, the scientists found that those in the highest one-quarter in hostility, anger and depression showed a steady and significant increase in C3 levels, nwhile those in the lowest one-quarter had no increase.
www.nytimes.com, August 14, 2007. Adaptado.
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