I have read and heard , in layman's terms the effects of emotion, especially strong ones, on the heart which beats faster when in a state of anger, anxiety, fear and the like. Medical fraternity talk of the heart being stimulated by adrenaline (epinephrine), the hormone released as a result of symphathetic nerve actions during "fight or flight".
In a young person with a relatively normal heart, the resultant effect of extreme emotion on the heart is most likely an increase in heart rate. This is essential to increase oxygen in the tissues for higher production of energy required for "survival" actions. The rate will be faster but the appearance of the electrical configurations as seen in the electrocardiographic (ECG) tracings will remain the same as in a normal situation.
However in a person who is elderly or having a pre-existing heart condition such as ischaemic heart disease, where parts of the heart are suffering from lack of oxygen due to narrowed blood vessels, the heart response to severe emotion might be different as not only would there be a rapid heart rate but the appearance of electrical tracings would also be affected.
A 48 year old lady came in one day for follow-up of her hypertension. She looked anxious and uneasy and seemed to be in a hurry. When I felt for her pulse, it was rapid and irregular. I ordered for an ECG tracing and observed that her heart rate and electrical tracings were abnormal. She was otherwise not in any physical distress. She told me that she had to go to the airport to receive the body of her aunt who just went to the capital city by air the day before and collapsed and died on arrival and the remains was being taken back by the following day's flight home. It was such a shock to her that she could feel some chest discomfort.
Her ECG in Sept. 2009,
with an abnormal heart beat
( arrhythmia)
That was about two months back, and when she returned a few days ago, her pulse was normal, as confirmed by a repeat ECG. She had recovered emotionally and was looking so much better.
Her ECG in Nov. 2009,
with normal heart beats
(normal rhythm)
It is important to always remind ourself that emotion can be controlled mentally. Controlling emotion involves acceptance. Refusing to accept an event beyond our control, appears to stimulate further the nervous action , and burdening the heart. Of course this form of mental control would apply to certain situations only such as unreasonable anger and anxiety.
Seeing the heart response of the above patient convinced me that emotional stress could be deadly and we must somehow manage it without having to resort to medication unless really indicated.
In a young person with a relatively normal heart, the resultant effect of extreme emotion on the heart is most likely an increase in heart rate. This is essential to increase oxygen in the tissues for higher production of energy required for "survival" actions. The rate will be faster but the appearance of the electrical configurations as seen in the electrocardiographic (ECG) tracings will remain the same as in a normal situation.
However in a person who is elderly or having a pre-existing heart condition such as ischaemic heart disease, where parts of the heart are suffering from lack of oxygen due to narrowed blood vessels, the heart response to severe emotion might be different as not only would there be a rapid heart rate but the appearance of electrical tracings would also be affected.
A 48 year old lady came in one day for follow-up of her hypertension. She looked anxious and uneasy and seemed to be in a hurry. When I felt for her pulse, it was rapid and irregular. I ordered for an ECG tracing and observed that her heart rate and electrical tracings were abnormal. She was otherwise not in any physical distress. She told me that she had to go to the airport to receive the body of her aunt who just went to the capital city by air the day before and collapsed and died on arrival and the remains was being taken back by the following day's flight home. It was such a shock to her that she could feel some chest discomfort.
Her ECG in Sept. 2009,
with an abnormal heart beat
( arrhythmia)
That was about two months back, and when she returned a few days ago, her pulse was normal, as confirmed by a repeat ECG. She had recovered emotionally and was looking so much better.
Her ECG in Nov. 2009,
with normal heart beats
(normal rhythm)
It is important to always remind ourself that emotion can be controlled mentally. Controlling emotion involves acceptance. Refusing to accept an event beyond our control, appears to stimulate further the nervous action , and burdening the heart. Of course this form of mental control would apply to certain situations only such as unreasonable anger and anxiety.
Seeing the heart response of the above patient convinced me that emotional stress could be deadly and we must somehow manage it without having to resort to medication unless really indicated.
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