Relationship Between Posttraumatic Stress Symptoms and Cardiovascular Disease Risk in Firefighters

2021 ◽  
pp. 014544552110613
Author(s):  
Amy J. Angleman ◽  
Vincent B. Van Hasselt ◽  
Bailee B. Schuhmann
Keyword(s):  
Cardiovascular Disease ◽  
Posttraumatic Stress ◽  
Disease Risk ◽  
Fire Service ◽  
Self Report ◽  
Posttraumatic Stress Symptoms ◽  
Cvd Risk ◽  
Stress Symptoms ◽  
The Impact ◽  
The Relationship

The impact of occupational stress on first responders has received increased investigative attention in recent years. However, research specifically targeting firefighters and their unique responses to job related stress remains limited. Although cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk has been recognized in firefighters, behavioral and psychological contributions (e.g., posttraumatic stress) have not been adequately examined. The purpose of this study was to: (1) examine the relationship between posttraumatic stress symptoms and CVD risk in firefighters, (2) assess the effects of service time on the relationship, and (3) increase understanding of the manifestations of stress in this population. Participants were 87 firefighters from Special Operations teams. Self-report measures of posttraumatic stress symptoms, health, and length of service were administered. Data from annual physical examinations provided information regarding CVD risk (weight, height, blood pressure, cholesterol, smoking, physical exercise). Results indicated significant relationships between posttraumatic stress symptomatology and current smoking status, triglyceride levels, and the number of CVD risk factors. Findings suggest that the presence of posttraumatic stress symptoms may influence overall CVD risk and may not be moderated by years of fire service. Implications for behavioral interventions with firefighters are discussed. Suggestions for future research in this area are offered.

scholarly journals The relationship between self-traumatized and self-vulnerable automatic associations and posttraumatic stress symptoms among adults who have experienced a distressing life event

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Simon E. Blackwell ◽  
Thomas Ehring ◽  
Thomas E. Gladwin ◽  
Jürgen Margraf ◽  
Marcella L. Woud
Keyword(s):  
Posttraumatic Stress ◽  
Self Report ◽  
Posttraumatic Stress Symptoms ◽  
Negative Life Event ◽  
Post Traumatic Stress ◽  
Life Event ◽  
Stress Symptoms ◽  
Automatic Associations ◽  
Post Traumatic ◽  
The Relationship

AbstractConvergent evidence supports a crucial role for dysfunctional appraisals in the development and maintenance of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). However, most research in this area has used self-report measures, assessing only explicit forms of such negative cognitions; the relevance of their more automatically-activated counterparts, as assumed by cognitive models, remains relatively unexplored. The current study aimed to further our understanding of the potential utility of measuring automatic dysfunctional associations in the context of posttraumatic stress. The relationship between scores on two different implicit association tests (IATs) and posttraumatic stress symptoms was investigated in a sample of adults (N = 279) who reported having experienced a potentially traumatic negative life event. Participants completed the two IATs (one assessing self-traumatized associations, the other self-vulnerable associations), a self-report measure of dysfunctional appraisals, and measures of posttraumatic stress symptoms and other aspects of psychopathology online. Scores indicating higher levels of dysfunctional associations on both IATs were associated with higher levels of posttraumatic stress symptoms. Only scores on the IAT measuring self-vulnerable associations, and not the IAT measuring self-traumatized associations, continued to show an association with posttraumatic stress symptoms after controlling for explicit dysfunctional appraisals. Overall, the results indicate the value of investigating PTSD-relevant automatic associations to further develop our understanding of cognitive processes implicated in posttraumatic stress.

Cognitive Emotion Regulation as a Mediator between Posttraumatic Stress Symptoms and Hypomanic Personality within a Non-Clinical Population

2015 ◽  
Vol 44 (1) ◽  
pp. 104-111 ◽  
Author(s):  
Craig Steel
Keyword(s):  
Bipolar Disorder ◽  
Emotion Regulation ◽  
Posttraumatic Stress ◽  
Clinical Symptoms ◽  
Posttraumatic Stress Symptoms ◽  
Cognitive Emotion Regulation ◽  
Theoretical Understanding ◽  
Stress Symptoms ◽  
The Impact ◽  
The Relationship

Background: There is a high prevalence of traumatic life events within individuals diagnosed with bipolar disorder. However, currently there is limited theoretical understanding of this relationship. Aims: To explore whether non-clinical symptoms of posttraumatic stress have a direct effect on the non-clinical symptoms of bipolar disorder, or whether this relationship is mediated by cognitive emotion regulation strategies. Method: A cross-sectional design within non-clinical participants completing an online survey including the Impact of Events Scale, Cognitive Emotion Regulation Questionnaire and the Hypomanic Personality Scale. Results: Posttraumatic stress symptoms were associated with hypomanic personality. Intrusive memories contributed a small but significant proportion of the variance between these two measures. Rumination of negative emotions mediated the relationship between posttraumatic stress and hypomanic personality. Conclusions: The relationship between traumatic events and an increased prevalence of bipolar disorder remains poorly understood. Further research should explore rumination as a potential target for treatment within those suffering from both posttraumatic stress and bipolar disorder.

scholarly journals The relationship between self-traumatized and self-vulnerable automatic associations and posttraumatic stress symptoms among adults who have experienced a distressing life event

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Simon Edward Blackwell ◽  
Thomas Ehring ◽  
Thomas Edward Gladwin ◽  
Jürgen Margraf ◽  
Marcella Woud
Keyword(s):  
Posttraumatic Stress ◽  
Self Report ◽  
Posttraumatic Stress Symptoms ◽  
Negative Life Event ◽  
Post Traumatic Stress ◽  
Life Event ◽  
Symptoms Of Depression ◽  
Stress Symptoms ◽  
Automatic Associations ◽  
The Relationship

Convergent evidence supports a crucial role for dysfunctional appraisals in the development and maintenance of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). However, most research in this area has used self-report measures, assessing only explicit forms of such negative cognitions; the relevance of their more automatically-activated counterparts, as assumed by cognitive models, remains relatively unexplored. The current study aimed to further our understanding of the potential utility of measuring automatic dysfunctional associations in the context of posttraumatic stress. The relationship between scores on two different implicit association tests (IATs) and posttraumatic stress symptoms was investigated in a sample of adults (N = 279) who reported having experienced a potentially traumatic negative life event. Participants completed the two IATs (one assessing self-traumatized associations, the other self-vulnerable associations), a self-report measure of dysfunctional appraisals, and measures of posttraumatic stress symptoms and other aspects of psychopathology online. Scores indicating higher levels of dysfunctional associations on both IATs were associated with higher levels of posttraumatic stress symptoms. Only scores on the IAT measuring self-vulnerable associations, and not the IAT measuring self-traumatized associations, continued to show an association with posttraumatic stress symptoms once explicit dysfunctional appraisals were controlled for, and this relationship appeared to reflect shared variance with symptoms of depression. Overall, the results indicate the value of investigating PTSD-relevant automatic associations to further develop our understanding of cognitive processes implicated in posttraumatic distress and highlight cognitive targets for treatment.

scholarly journals Consumption of dairy products and cardiovascular disease risk: results from the French prospective cohort NutriNet-Santé

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-37
Author(s):  
Laury Sellem ◽  
Bernard Srour ◽  
Kim G. Jackson ◽  
Serge Hercberg ◽  
Pilar Galan ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cardiovascular Disease ◽  
Dairy Products ◽  
Disease Risk ◽  
Heart Diseases ◽  
Cardiovascular Disease Risk ◽  
Dietary Intakes ◽  
Cvd Risk ◽  
Dairy Consumption ◽  
Fermented Dairy ◽  
The Impact

Abstract In France, dairy products contribute to dietary saturated fat intake, of which reduced consumption is often recommended for cardiovascular disease (CVD) prevention. Epidemiological evidence on the association between dairy consumption and CVD risk remains unclear, suggesting either null or inverse associations. This study aimed to investigate the associations between dairy consumption (overall and specific foods) and CVD risk in a large cohort of French adults. This prospective analysis included participants aged ≥ 18 years from the NutriNet-Santé cohort (2009–2019). Daily dietary intakes were collected using 24h-dietary records. Total dairy, milk, cheese, yogurts, fermented and reduced-fat dairy intakes were investigated. CVD cases (n=1,952) included cerebrovascular (n=878 cases) and coronary heart diseases (CHD, n=1,219 cases). Multivariable Cox models were performed to investigate associations. This analysis included n=104,805 French adults (mean age at baseline 42.8 years (SD 14.6)), mean follow-up 5.5 years (SD 3.0, i.e. 579,155 persons years). There were no significant associations between dairy intakes and total CVD or CHD risks. However, the consumption of at least 160 g/d of fermented dairy (e.g. cheese and yogurts) was associated with a reduced risk of cerebrovascular diseases compared to intakes below 57 g/d (HR=0.81 [0.66-0.98], p-trend=0.01). Despite being a major dietary source of saturated fats, dairy consumption was not associated with CVD or CHD risks in this study. However, fermented dairy was associated with a lower cerebrovascular disease risk. Robust randomized controlled trials are needed to further assess the impact of consuming different dairy foods on CVD risk and potential underlying mechanisms.

scholarly journals Relationship between Depressive Symptoms and Cardiovascular Disease Risk Factors in African American Individuals

2011 ◽  
Vol 2011 ◽  
pp. 1-6 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ali A. Weinstein ◽  
Preetha Abraham ◽  
Guoqing Diao ◽  
Stacey A. Zeno ◽  
Patricia A. Deuster
Keyword(s):  
Risk Factors ◽  
Cardiovascular Disease ◽  
African American ◽  
Depressive Symptoms ◽  
Disease Risk ◽  
Cardiovascular Disease Risk ◽  
Regression Analyses ◽  
Cvd Risk Factors ◽  
Cvd Risk ◽  
The Relationship

Objective. To examine the relationship between depressive symptoms and cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors in a group of African American individuals.Design. A nonrandom sample of 253 (age 43.7 ± 11.6 years; 37% male) African American individuals was recruited by advertisements. Data were obtained by validated questionnaires, anthropometric, blood pressure, and blood sample measurements.Results. Regression analyses were performed to assess the relationship between depressive symptoms and CVD risk factors controlling for socioeconomic status indicators. These analyses demonstrated that those with higher levels of depressive symptoms had larger waist-to-hip ratios, higher percent body fat, higher triglycerides, and were more likely to be smokers.Conclusions. It has been well documented that higher levels of depressive symptoms are associated with higher CVD risk. However, this evidence is derived primarily from samples of predominantly Caucasian individuals. The present investigation demonstrates that depressive symptoms are related to CVD risk factors in African American individuals.

scholarly journals Circulating Proangiogenic Cell Activity Is Associated with Cardiovascular Disease Risk

2012 ◽  
Vol 17 (9) ◽  
pp. 1163-1170 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kreton Mavromatis ◽  
Konstantinos Aznaouridis ◽  
Ibhar Al Mheid ◽  
Emir Veledar ◽  
Saurabh Dhawan ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Risk Factors ◽  
Cardiovascular Disease ◽  
Bone Marrow ◽  
Disease Risk ◽  
Cardiovascular Disease Risk ◽  
Cell Activity ◽  
Atherosclerotic Cardiovascular Disease ◽  
Cvd Risk ◽  
The Relationship

Vascular injury mobilizes bone marrow–derived proangiogenic cells into the circulation, where these cells can facilitate vascular repair and new vessel formation. We sought to determine the relationship between a new biomarker of circulating bone marrow–derived proangiogenic cell activity, the presence of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (CVD) and its risk factors, and clinical outcomes. Circulating proangiogenic cell activity was estimated using a reproducible angiogenic colony-forming unit (CFU-A) assay in 532 clinically stable subjects aged 20 to 90 years and ranging in the CVD risk spectrum from those who are healthy without risk factors to those with active CVD. CFU-A counts increased with the burden of CVD risk factors ( p < 0.001). CFU-A counts were higher in subjects with symptomatic CVD than in those without ( p < 0.001). During follow-up of 232 subjects with CVD, CFU-A counts were higher in those with death, myocardial infarction, or stroke than in those without (110 [70–173] vs 84 [51–136], p = 0.01). Therefore, we conclude that circulating proangiogenic cell activity, as estimated by CFU-A counts, increases with CVD risk factor burden and in the presence of established CVD. Furthermore, higher circulating proangiogenic cell activity is associated with worse clinical outcome in those with CVD.

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