Heart Health

Post-traumatic stress disorder: When fear strikes the heart

By , Executive Editor, Harvard Heart Letter
PTSD is linked to a higher risk of cardiovascular disease, but experts are still untangling the connection.

Over the course of a lifetime, many people directly experience or witness harrowing events. These include serious car accidents, violent personal trauma (including sexual assault), natural or human-made disasters, and military combat. Life-threatening health conditions — such as a sudden cardiac arrest, a devastating stroke, or any illness that requires a prolonged stay in the ICU — can also leave people traumatized.

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About the Author

photo of Julie Corliss

Julie Corliss, Executive Editor, Harvard Heart Letter

Julie Corliss is the executive editor of the Harvard Heart Letter. Before working at Harvard, she was a medical writer and editor at HealthNews, a consumer newsletter affiliated with The New England Journal of Medicine. She … See Full Bio
View all posts by Julie Corliss

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