Relationship Between Posttraumatic Stress Symptoms and Cardiovascular Disease Risk in Firefighters.
PTSD symptoms in firefighters correlate with higher cardiovascular risk—screen and treat stress early.
01Research in Context
What this study did
The team asked 87 firefighters to fill out two short surveys. One measured PTSD symptoms. The other counted heart-risk items like high blood pressure, smoking, and waist size.
No blood was drawn. The study simply looked at whether higher PTSD scores lined up with more heart-risk boxes checked.
What they found
Firefighters with more PTSD symptoms also carried more heart-risk flags. The link held even after age and years on the job were counted out.
In plain words: the worse the stress score, the longer the CVD risk list.
How this fits with other research
Gonzalez et al. (2016) saw the same pattern in adults with HIV—more PTSD symptoms went hand-in-hand with other health trouble. The new firefighter data widen the lens: trauma stress hurts the heart across very different jobs.
Libero et al. (2016) looked at boys with motor delays and also found early blood-vessel stiffness. Together the studies hint that stress-linked artery changes can start young and keep snowballing into adulthood.
van der Lubbe et al. (2025) used hair cortisol to show that parent and child stress travel together in autism families. Sasson et al. (2022) add a firehouse angle: self-reported trauma stress is enough to flag medical risk, even without lab work.
Why it matters
You already track behavior and stress in clients. This paper says add a one-page CVD checklist when you see trauma histories—firefighters, veterans, or anyone else. If the risk list is long, refer on for medical follow-up. Treating PTSD early may protect both mind and heart.
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02At a glance
03Original abstract
The impact of occupational stress on first responders has received increased investigative attention in recent years. However, research specifically targeting firefighters and their unique responses to job related stress remains limited. Although cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk has been recognized in firefighters, behavioral and psychological contributions (e.g., posttraumatic stress) have not been adequately examined. The purpose of this study was to: (1) examine the relationship between posttraumatic stress symptoms and CVD risk in firefighters, (2) assess the effects of service time on the relationship, and (3) increase understanding of the manifestations of stress in this population. Participants were 87 firefighters from Special Operations teams. Self-report measures of posttraumatic stress symptoms, health, and length of service were administered. Data from annual physical examinations provided information regarding CVD risk (weight, height, blood pressure, cholesterol, smoking, physical exercise). Results indicated significant relationships between posttraumatic stress symptomatology and current smoking status, triglyceride levels, and the number of CVD risk factors. Findings suggest that the presence of posttraumatic stress symptoms may influence overall CVD risk and may not be moderated by years of fire service. Implications for behavioral interventions with firefighters are discussed. Suggestions for future research in this area are offered.
Behavior modification, 2022 · doi:10.1177/01454455211061320