RELATION OF PHYSICAL EXERTION AND EMOTION TO PRECIPITATION OF CORONARY THROMBI

Abstract

Until quite recently it was generally agreed that excessive physical exertion or emotion was intimately connected with the precipitation of coronary thrombi. Fitzhugh and Hamilton¹and Sproull,²from analyses of the histories of their cases, concluded that coronary occlusion was preceded as a rule by departures from ordinary habits of living. During the last two years, however, some doubt has been expressed regarding this relationship. Phipps³and later Master and his co-workers⁴in statistical surveys have shown that approximately 40 per cent of attacks of coronary thrombosis are initiated while the patient is either asleep or at rest and that in only a small number is the attack immediately related to unusual exertion or emotion. The latter authors conclude that their results seem to eliminate exertion or excitement as factors in the precipitation of coronary thrombi. Such a conclusion implies that coronary thrombi are initiated and