9/11 attacks stoked U.S. heart ailments
By Bruce Bower
The terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, had a heartfelt impact on certain U.S. residents. Those who experienced serious stress-related reactions in the weeks after 9/11 developed more heart and blood vessel ailments than their less-stressed counterparts did, reports a team led by nursing researcher E. Alison Holman of the University of California, Irvine.
A nationally representative sample of 2,592 adults completed a health survey during the summer of 2001 and again within 3 weeks after 9/11. Follow-up surveys assessed physician-diagnosed medical ailments, including heart problems, strokes, and high blood pressure.