Heart attack survivors half as likely to suffer further attacks if they have love and friends

Main Category: Public Health
Article Date: 15 Apr 2004 - 0:00 PST

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A new study shows that if you had a heart attack and survived it, your chances of having another attack within a year are halved if you have close friends and/or relatives who love you (in comparison to patients who do not have close friends and loving relatives).

You can read about this study in the journal Heart (a British Medical Association Journal).

The study monitored about 600 patients for one year (after their heart attack).

The study mentioned that patients with a close confidant had only half the risk of a further cardiac event of those without a confidant. According to the report, they made adjustments for many other heart disease risk factors.

It seems that you are more likely to drink heavily if you do not have close confidant. You are also more likely to smoke and take illegal drugs.

However, the study said that it was not the difference in drinking, smoking and substance abuse alone that increased the risk of another heart attack.

The researchers are not sure why a patient who has a close confidant has a lower risk. They suggest that maybe the confidant helps them stick to their treatment and attend follow up sessions with their doctors.

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