RELATIONSHIPS OF STRESSFUL LIFESTYLE AND LACK OF EXERCISE IN HEART ATTACK SUFFERERS

Abstract

The present study aims to assess the relationships of stressful lifestyle and lack of exercise with the incidence of heart attack. The research was conducted at the cardiovascular in-patient clinics of four hospitals based in the city of Ankara. A total of 198 patients, grouped as 116 males (52.6 ± 0.5 yrs of age) and 82 females (69.7 ± 0.7 yrs of age) participated in the study. A questionnaire developed by the researchers, and composed of 36 questions concerning demographics, health, exercise, and stress was applied to the participants. The retrospective study relied on the information given by the patients. Those who received less than eight years of education reached a total of 70.7 %. While patients with positive family history were 29.3 % of the total, 59.1 % of all cases were smokers. About 85.4 % of the smokers exceeded half a packet per day. Alcohol was consumed at a certain rate by 39.4 % of the patients. The age groups with higher heart attack incidence were 51-60 yrs in the males (43.1 %), and 61-70 yrs in the females (45.1 %). Concerning professions, 31.8 % were non-working females. The rate of heart attack reached 85.9 % in the low income group. Of the 11 envisaged stress factors, 58.5 % of the females, and 47.4 % of the males possessed between 3-5 such factors. According to the results obtained from the herein studied population, it may be concluded that non-exercising, cigarette smoking people with a stressful lifestyle are at a higher risk of suffering heart attacks.