Review
Anxiety disorder as a potential for sudden death
1Özel Avrupa Şafak Hastanesi Kardiyoloji Kliniği Gaziosmanpaşa-İstanbul, Türkiye
2Erciyes Üniversitesi Tıp Fakültesi Kardiyoloji Anabilim Dalı, Kayseri
2Erciyes Üniversitesi Tıp Fakültesi Kardiyoloji Anabilim Dalı, Kayseri
Anatol J Cardiol 2007; 2(7): 179-183 PubMed ID: 17513215
Abstract
A close association between anxiety disorder and sudden death is known. If any underlying heart disease exists, it is easy to discuss this association. If it does not, it is difficult to explain anxiety disorder as a cause of sudden death. In case of acute anxiety, many complicated physiologic events, which have capacity of contributing to sudden death, occur. On the other hand, accelerated atherosclerosis ensues in the case of chronic anxiety, and the latter increases vulnerability to sudden death through development of coronary events.
Keywords: Anxiety, sudden death