[Medical Q&A] Can emotional out-of-control also cause myocardial infarction or sudden death?

Planner: Chinese Medical Association

Reviewer: He Yubin, Chief Physician, Seventh Medical Center, PLA General Hospital

Did you know that emotional out-of-control can affect mental health and may also induce "sympathetic storms", which in severe cases may even lead to acute myocardial infarction or sudden death?

When a person is in a state of rage, the sympathetic nerves may be extremely excited, causing sudden occlusion of the coronary arteries of the heart. This process will cause instant myocardial ischemia and hypoxia, and may eventually lead to acute myocardial necrosis, which is an important cause of sudden death.

Factors that cause the body's internal environment to become unbalanced are often associated with the occurrence of acute cardiovascular and cerebrovascular events. Common situations include overeating, ecstasy, violent mood swings, and long-term exposure to certain types of great stress. People with excessive mental stress have a significantly increased risk of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases. Animal experiments have also shown that animals that are in a state of fright for a long time will have a shorter lifespan.

Therefore, it is very important for patients with cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases or people who are under great stress for a long time to learn to manage emotions and control the risk factors of acute cardiac events. Good emotional management can not only improve the quality of life, but also effectively reduce the risk of sudden death.