Poor economy leads to increase in heart problems
07:35 PM CDT on Friday, October 3, 2008
By JEFF BRADY / WFAA-TV
Over the last two weeks, the wild ride on Wall Street has kept financial planners and brokers busier than ever.
But they're not the only ones.
Some cardiologists say their phones have been swamped with patients whose financial distress has affected their pulse, heartbeat and even the likelihood of a heart attack.
Abdul Shariff knows he's at risk for a heart attack.
He's a 57-year-old diabetic and a small business-owner, stressed out by a stumbling economy.
"I would say I'm probably taking four times the medication I was taking 10 years ago," he said.
Here's the problem.
His convenience store - in a prominent McKinney neighborhood - is doing such poor business he's put it up for sale.
"I don't have enough sleep, honest to God, I cannot even sleep. Every night I go to bed, and think about how I'm gonna pay the bills the next day," he said.
As the economy worsens, heart patients at a McKinney clinic are coming in two or three times as often.
"People are just freaking out," said Dr. Akram Khan of the Center for Preventative Medicine.
Dr. Akram Khan says financial stress can be one of the worst.
In the last two weeks, he's listened to more complaints of chest pain and often has doubled his patients' medication.
"I'm seeing people come in with lots of palpitation, a rhythm problem, which is most likely due to stress," he said.
Dr. Khan says he saw a similar jump in his patient load seven years ago, right after 9-11. And he says stress alone can be deadly.
"Stress can precipitate a heart attack and early, premature death - that's a fact," he said.
Another fact, early detection and prevention are the best medicines.
Dr. Khan advises his patients to track their diet, pulse, sleep and exercise - more closely than ever - when financial fears are worse.
Dr. Khan says long-term cardio health is really the responsibility of the patient and getting a spouse and children involved are the keys to success.
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E-mail jbrady@wfaa.com.