[Anxiety and coronary heart disease]

A high proportion of diseases resulted from cardiologic reasons has arisen an interest in the problem of prevention against cardio-vascular diseases. According to the WHO reports, by 2020, a coronary heart disease and depression will have become the most frequent reason of disability in the world. The paper presents studies estimating the effect of fear on the possibility of coronary heart disease pathogenesis. The studies analyzed the problem how fear may affect sudden deaths for cardiologic reasons. There was emphasized the significance of factors coexisting with fear in women and men as well as a role of fear and depression occurring in ventricular arrhythmia in patients with ischemic heart disease. The paper describes possible mechanisms leading to sudden cardiac deaths. The author indicated the role of the central nervous system controlling the cardiovascular system and the significance of genetic background of conducive psychosocial factors, such as: nicotinism and type "A" behaviour. Results of the studies estimating heart rhythm irregularities and elevated fear level were included; it was noticed that disturbances in cardiac performance variability were a predictive factor of sudden deaths for cardiological reasons. The paper emphasizes a special role of physicians in cardiological mortality prophylaxis.