Role of psychological stress in cardiovascular disease

Abstract

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is reported to be the leading cause of death globally. A plethora of risk factors have been identified to explain the high prevalence rates of CVD. Though, several clinical and biochemical risk factors have been identified, the role of psychological factors are also gaining importance during the past few decades. Recent studies suggest that psychological factors could be associated with the occurence and recurrence of CVD. Emotional stress has been shown to increase sympathetic nerve activity thereby triggering adverse cardiac events. Moreover, psychological factors also affect homeostasis and thrombosis. Though the sequelae of events are still unclear, this review tries to highlight the pathological mechanisms of psychological factors leading to CVD.