Study Finds Threefold Jump in Post-Katrina Heart Attacks; Stress Blamed

[MountainLaurel]

What I find especially interesting is that you didn't have to be a survivor in order to be affected, such as contractors from other areas who worked with Katrina survivors.

In the two years after Hurricane Katrina pummeled the New Orleans area, Tulane University doctors found a threefold rise in heart attacks among their patients, and they put the blame on continuing storm-related stress, according to a study to be presented Sunday.

Calling this sustained rise in heart problems part of Katrina's "lingering legacy," researchers found these patients showed post-storm increase in factors that are evidence of stress, including homelessness, unemployment, loss of insurance, smoking, poor eating habits, failure to take prescriptions and living in temporary housing such as FEMA trailers.

Living under such conditions "creates a high stress level," said Dr. Anand Irimpen, a Tulane cardiologist and one of the investigators.

Norman Morales can vouch for that. The Chalmette man, whose home was drowned by floodwaters, suffered a heart atatck in January 2008 after enduring a two-year odyssey that included time in shelters and a FEMA trailer.

http://www.nola.com/news/index.ssf/2009/03/tulane_study_finds_threefold_j.html

[Fire_Medic_Dave]

1. Bad stress is the true killer.

It weakens your immunity, disrupts your sleep, increases your blood pressure, etc.

David

[Heddi]

2. we have had many Katrina evacuees up here in the Pacific Northwest

granted I work on a cardiology floor so I'm more likely to see them for cardiac reasons, I'm amazed at how far people spread after Katrina, even ending up here in my little corner of the continent. Many of them are homeless (but were not homeless prior to Katrina). Many of them have developed, or worsened drug and alcohol addiction/dependence since the hurricane. Many of them have just drifted from one state to another and ended up here after 3 or 4 years on the road. Most of them are separated from friends and family. Most of them were living with distant relatives then had the rug pulled out from under them, leaving them homeless.

I can see where these folks are more likely to suffer ill health, especially with regards to cardiac issues.

[astral]

3. It is like having your life taken away from you

being forced to leave your community after watching it being destroyed and your family / friends drowning or dying of starvation / lack of water / disease.

The mold problems that came about from all the flooding of homes must have been the cause for alot of the sickness and dying too, and heart attacks being included in that, for many of those who stayed or went back.