POST-CARDIAC EVENT STRESS AND ANXIETY SYMPTOMS Having a major cardiac event can be a stressful, life changing occurrence. Often, the psychological impacts of having a heart attack (myocardial infarction) are underestimated and can be long lasting. In fact, there is evidence to suggest that the emotional stressors that occur post-MI are consistent with symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), which has been shown to be associated with higher rates of recurrent coronary events and overall increased mortality in diagnosed patients.