Cosmopolitan

Friday, August 20, 2010

Game on

Do you love a little healthy competition? Well, here’s a reason to calm down and play nice – your competitiveness may be killing you.

While it’s important to have a mild streak of competitiveness – after all, it can help you get that promotion or exercise harder – it can also mean that you’ve got an increased risk for stroke and heart attack than those people that are more laid back.

The study, which was published in Hypertension: Journal of the American Heart Association, reveals that of the 5614 participants, those that scored highest for competitiveness on standard personality tests had a greater thickening of neck arteries, and risk factor for heart attack and stroke.

Those participants who described themselves as manipulative and quick to express anger also had greater thickening of their artery walls at a follow up exam three years later.

Moral of the story? If you like to win, make sure your health comes first!

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