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(Ivanhoe Newswire) -- Studies have already linked anger to high blood pressure and other factors contributing to heart disease. Now, new research suggests a hostile personality may also lead to lower lung function.
Investigators first tested the lung function of 670 men who were taking part in a larger study on aging in 1986. All the men were also measured for hostility levels using a standard scale. Results showed lung function went down as hostility levels went up.
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The men were then followed for an average of eight years, during which time they underwent three subsequent testing sessions. While all the men showed the typical signs of age-related lung function decline, men who exhibited more hostility exhibited greater than expected drops in lung function. The finding held true even after the researchers took other factors that could affect lung function, such as smoking, into account.
The authors believe these findings mesh with other studies linking stress to neurological and hormonal changes known to lead to chronic inflammation, a key marker in conditions ranging from heart disease to diabetes.
"This study is one of the first to show prospectively that hostility is associated with poorer pulmonary function and more rapid rates of decline among older men," write the authors. "Identifying factors that predict a rapid decline in pulmonary function among older adults will increase opportunities for early intervention to protect lung health."
This article was reported by Ivanhoe.com, who offers Medical Alerts by e-mail every day of the week. To subscribe, go to: http://www.ivanhoe.com/newsalert/.
SOURCE: Thorax, published online Aug. 30, 2006
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