Dear Mayo Clinic: I'm a Vietnam veteran being treated for post-
traumatic stress disorder, high blood pressure and
cardiovascular disease. Are they related? A: Those three
conditions can be related. Post-traumatic stress disorder takes
a physical toll on your body. In some cases, its effects may
lead to other medical problems or make the symptoms of those
problems worse. Post-traumatic stress disorder is a type of
anxiety disorder that develops in response to a traumatic event.
It may affect people involved in war, as in your situation. But
other events can trigger PTSD, too. For example, it can affect
survivors of sexual or physical assault, a natural disaster or a
vehicle crash. Rescue workers involved in an event that includes
mass casualties or other tragedies also may develop the
disorder. Many people who are involved in or witness traumatic
events have a brief period of difficulty adjusting and coping
afterward. But with time, and some healthy coping methods, such
traumatic reactions usually get better o