Being a 'Type D' Personality Is Bad for Your Heart. 1 Change Can Reduce the Risk

Your personality can impact everything from relationships to work success. It can also be a factor in heart health.

Type A personality — typically referring to a person who is highly competitive, impatient, driven and irritable — has long been under scrutiny for its link to high stress levels and a potentially higher risk of heart disease.

But newer research finds a bigger health toll from Type D personality, which describes people who are distressed and tend to experience negative emotions, leading to more symptoms of depression and anxiety.

At the same time, they also tend not to express these emotions, fearing rejection or disapproval from others.

Doctors say the toll that can take on the heart shows the importance of boosting mental health every day.

Cardiologist Tip of the Day: Do Something Every Day That Relieves Stress

“Our emotional lives have profound consequences for the biomechanical pump,” Dr. Sandeep Jauhar, a New York cardiologist who specializes in heart failure, previously told TODAY.com.

“Stress and the heart don’t mix well. Everyone is different, so I would encourage people to find what works for them and really pursue it.”

Why It Matters

The current research doesn’t suggest that a Type A personality is a huge factor in developing heart disease, Jauhar noted.

“The focus is more on the type D personality — people who are more anxious and depressed. That seems to have a significant correlation with the development of heart disease,” he said.

Type D personality is a “vulnerability factor” for general psychological distress and is associated with “disease-promoting mechanisms,” studies have found.

It's linked with less healthy eating and less regular physical exercise.

One in four patients with coronary heart disease has a Type D personality, researchers note.

How to Get Started

Find an outlet to relieve stress every day — it’s different for different people so explore whatever works for you.

Exercise can ease anxiety symptoms, studies have found. Jauhar likes to do aerobic exercise, while his wife prefers yoga.

Many people feel better when meeting with friends. Some find stress reduction just by being in nature. It can even mean taking 10 minutes of quiet time for yourself to get started, cardiologists say.

Whatever relieves stress in your life, do it every day to boost heart health, Jauhar advises.