Study
Can Pleasant Scents Help Calm Anxiety After a Heart Attack?
Across several clinical trials, aromatherapy often lowered anxiety in people hospitalized for a heart attack, though results varied a lot from study to study.
Stress & Anxiety
Summary
In plain language
Researchers looked at whether aromatherapy (breathing in essential oil scents) can ease anxiety in adults who are in the hospital for an acute myocardial infarction—more commonly called a heart attack. Anxiety is very common after a heart attack, especially in the first couple of days, and it can make recovery feel harder.
This study combined results from 14 randomized controlled trials (the type of study that compares an intervention to usual care or a placebo). Overall, aromatherapy was linked to a meaningful drop in anxiety scores. Some specific oils—geranium, chamomile, and bitter orange (Citrus aurantium)—showed the most consistent benefit in the analysis. Aromatherapy also appeared to modestly lower systolic blood pressure (the top number).
For seniors, this matters because aromatherapy is simple, low-effort, and can sometimes be used even in intensive care settings. It may be a helpful add-on for comfort and calm during hospitalization, alongside standard heart attack treatment.
Details
Use the full description to understand the study design, methods, and the limits of the findings.
Aromatherapy may be a supportive tool for easing stress during heart-attack hospitalization, but it should be viewed as an add-on—not a replacement—for medical care.
Study design (in plain terms): A systematic review and meta-analysis of 14 randomized controlled trials in hospitalized adults (18+) with heart attack. Researchers searched multiple medical databases through Sept 2023 and combined anxiety results using a random-effects model.
Key findings (with numbers): Overall anxiety improved with aromatherapy (Hedges’s g = -2.087; 95% CI -2.834 to -1.341; p < 0.001). Results differed widely between studies (I² = 96.7%, meaning studies did not all agree). In subgroup results, geranium (g = -6.970), chamomile (g = -3.735), and Citrus aurantium (g = -3.614) showed significant anxiety reductions. Systolic blood pressure also decreased (g = -0.903; 95% CI -1.689 to -0.117; p = 0.024).
Limitations to know: Very high variation across studies (different oils, doses, timing, and settings) makes it hard to predict who will benefit most. Not all oils worked the same, and the review summary provided limited detail on side effects in the excerpt.
Practical implications: If you or a loved one is hospitalized after a heart attack and feeling anxious, ask the care team whether aromatherapy is allowed on the unit and which scents are safest. Avoid strong scents if you have asthma/COPD, migraines triggered by odors, nausea, or fragrance sensitivity, and never ingest essential oils unless specifically directed by a clinician.
As always, discuss anxiety symptoms and any complementary approaches (including essential oils) with your cardiology and nursing team to make sure they fit safely with your treatment plan.
Full Study
Open the original publication for the complete methods, outcomes, and source material.
Can Pleasant Scents Help Calm Anxiety After a Heart Attack?
Published February 2026
Opens at the publisher · external site · may require institutional access
Research Quality Score
Assessment
This is a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized trials, which is generally a strong evidence design. Methodological confidence is reduced primarily by the extremely high heterogeneity across included studies (different essential oils, dosing, timing, and hospital contexts), which makes the pooled estimate less stable and less actionable for a specific senior-care protocol. In addition, aromatherapy trials often cannot fully blind participants and staff, increasing risk of expectancy and performance bias for subjective outcomes like anxiety. The statistical approach (random-effects) is appropriate, but the magnitude of effects and heterogeneity suggest that additional robustness checks (risk-of-bias stratification, sensitivity analyses, and publication-bias assessment) are critical to interpretability. For adults 60+, relevance is indirect because the review includes adults broadly (18+) and does not clearly establish senior-specific effects or safety considerations in older, comorbid populations.
Category Breakdown
| Category | Score | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| Study Design / Evidence Level | 7.5/10 | |
| Bias & Methods | 5.5/10 | |
| Statistical Integrity | 6.0/10 | |
| Transparency | 6.5/10 | |
| Conflict of Interest Disclosure | 6.0/10 | |
| Replication / External Validation | 6.5/10 | |
| Relevance to Seniors | 4.5/10 | |
| Journal Quality | 6.5/10 |
Additional Notes
Key items to verify in the full text to refine scores: (1) protocol registration (e.g., PROSPERO) and PRISMA adherence; (2) detailed risk-of-bias assessment (allocation concealment, blinding, attrition) and whether results were stratified by trial quality; (3) publication-bias evaluation (funnel plot/Egger) and small-study effects; (4) sensitivity analyses excluding high-risk-of-bias trials; (5) reporting of adverse events and contraindications (important for seniors with COPD/asthma, migraines, frailty, polypharmacy, and oxygen therapy environments); (6) age distribution and any older-adult subgroup analyses.
Conditions This Research Covers
These condition pages help connect the paper back to the real-world health concerns it addresses.
Health Condition
Heart Disease
Heart disease, also known as cardiovascular disease, is a broad term that encompasses a range of conditions affecting the heart and blood vessels. It is a leading cause of death worldwide, particularly among older adults.
4 studies
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Health Condition
Heart Attack (AMI)
A heart attack, or acute myocardial infarction (AMI), occurs when blood flow to part of the heart is blocked, causing damage to heart muscle. It primarily affects older adults, often resulting in serious health consequences. Timely medical intervention is crucial to minimize damage and improve recovery outcomes.
1 study
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Treatments Evaluated in This Research
Review the interventions studied here and compare them against the broader treatment library.
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