Hopelessness ups stroke risk in women

Feelings of hopelessness can place healthy women at an increased risk of developing cardiovascular events such as stroke, a new study finds. Previous studies had linked depression and hopelessness with heart disease, saying that optimism may protect women against cardiac problems. According to the study published in Stroke, healthy middle-aged women with chronic negative thinking and feelings of uselessness are more vulnerable to developing atherosclerotic plaques in their neck arteries, a precursor of stroke and subsequent heart attack. Thickening of arteries are reported to develop in these women who are generally healthy before relevant cardiovascular diseases occur. Scientists concluded that strong feelings of hopelessness in women are strong and early markers of cardiovascular diseases, adding that such women should seek medical consultation without delay