Stock market slides may hurt more than your savings. New research suggests they might prompt heart attacks. Duke University researchers found a link between how a key stock index performed and how many heart attacks were treated at their North Carolina hospital shortly after the recession began in December 2007 through July 2009, when signs of recovery emerged. The trend weakened after they did a second analysis taking into account seasons of the year. Some research suggests heart attacks are more common in winter, meaning the initial finding could have been a statistical fluke. However, leading scientists unconnected with the work said they found it plausible and worth further research in a nationwide study. Earlier studies have found higher rates of heart problems after World Cup soccer matches, earthquakes, Hurricane Katrina and other stressful events. Mona Fiuzat, a doctor of pharmacy and researcher at Duke, had the idea for the new study. As stock market values decreased, the incidence of heart attacks rose; the reverse also was true, she found.
