title: [Heart ischemia and psychosomatics: the role of stressful events and lifestyles].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  the aim of our study was to evaluate the role of stressful events, lifestyles and various socio-environmental factors in the beginning of ischemic cardiac diseases, together with cardiovascular factors.
  
  
  METHODS
  64 patients with recent cardiac ischemia and 64 controls matched 1:1, according to their sex and age, have been evaluated. The study required the filling in of clinico-anamnestic reports and the evaluation of stressful events, using the Holmes Rahe scale.
  
  
  RESULTS
  in the 44% of the patients who had a heart ischemia, an emotional striking event occurred few days before, with a 28% incidence of work and family problems. The mean score of the Holmes Rahe Social Readjustment Rating Scale was statistically significantly higher among cases (p<0,05). The percentage of the subjects who experienced a stressful event during the last year was significantly higher among those with an ischemic event even though the heart disease factors were similar in the 2 groups of cases and controls.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  although the known heart risk factors predispose to ischemic event, our results suggest that stressful and emotional factors play a fundamental role in increasing the risk.
authors: Dipartimento di Neuroscienze Cliniche, Università degli Studi di Palermo, Sezione di Psichiatria, via La Loggia, 1 Palermo, Italy.
authors: Maurizio Giuseppe
authors: MG
authors: Guarneri
authors: Laura
authors: L
authors: Nastri
authors: Pasquale
authors: P
authors: Assennato
authors: Angela
authors: A
authors: Li Puma
authors: Arianna
authors: A
authors: Landi
authors: Barbara
authors: B
authors: Bonanno
authors: Giovan Battista
authors: GB
authors: Maggì
authors: Giuseppe
authors: G
authors: Annino
authors: Filippa
authors: F
authors: Bono
authors: Daniele
authors: D
authors: La Barbera
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008019:Life Style; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017202:Myocardial Ischemia / Q000523:psychology*; D011602:Psychophysiologic Disorders / Q000523:psychology*; D012307:Risk Factors; D013315:Stress, Psychological