A new MRI-based study from McGill and Concordia University researchers has uncovered a sex-specific link between psychosocial stress and early signs of heart inflammation. Among 219 adults studied, women who reported high levels of stress — related to caregiving demands, low emotional support or overall perceived stress — showed elevated T1 and T2 heart tissue markers associated with early cardiac disease. These changes were not observed in men, even under comparable stress levels, suggesting fundamental biological differences in how stress affects cardiovascular health. Although the MRI values didn’t meet clinical thresholds, the elevated levels could signal increased long-term risk. The research underscores the importance of incorporating psychosocial stress and mental well-being into cardiovascular risk assessments, particularly for women, and lays groundwork for future studies exploring hormonal and biological contributors to stress-related heart disease. The post Researchers find link between psychosocial stress and early signs of heart inflammation in women appeared first on Hospital News.