People with ADHD were considered to have DESR if they also reported emotional-control symptoms that were worse than those reported by 95% of a large comparison group of people without ADHD. More than half of those with ADHD enrolled in the study (55%) were also emotionally reactive.
If stress itself is a risk factor for heart disease, it could be because chronic stress exposes your body to unhealthy, persistently elevated levels of stress hormones like adrenaline and cortisol. Studies also link stress to changes in the way blood clots, which increases the risk of heart attack.
Often, it is our response to the stress, rather than the stress itself, that causes problems. Read about the kinds of stress that cause heart disease, and which people can be affected. The mechanisms by which emotional stress can contribute to heart disease are only now being elucidated.