World Trade Center Causing Heart Problems

Shannon Weidemann

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The World Trade Center attacks on September 11th happened six years ago but for many people effects still linger. A new study by UC Irvine has shown that even people that were not directly affected by 9/11 may now be suffering heart problems because of stress. The study shows there may be more victims of World Trade Center Illness than previously thought.

Most of them had no pre-existing heart problems, and the results persisted even when risk factors such as high cholesterol, smoking and obesity were taken into account.

"It seems that the 9/11 attacks were so potent that media exposure helped to convey enough stress that people responded in a way that contributed to their cardiovascular problems," said Alison Holman, assistant professor of nursing science at UCI and the study's lead researcher.

An earlier study showed that 17 percent of Americans had symptoms of post traumatic stress disorder after 9/11. This study has found that for those that suffered from PTSD had more than double the risk of suffering heart problems.