scalability, resulting in NCDs disproportionately affecting people in low-and middle-income countries where more than 3 quarters of global NCD deaths-32 million-occur. (4) This statistic speaks to the importance of ongoing research that aims to identify methods of primary prevention for NCDs. (5) One such method is ANS modulation and its potential effect on disease. (6) There is evidence that stress may be systemically measured through changes in the functioning of the autonomic nervous system (ANS). Excessive stress, often characterised by increased sympathetic nervous activity (SNA), is associated with increased risk for certain non-communicable diseases (NCDs). (7,8) NCDs such as cardiovascular disease are noninfectious, chronic conditions that are typically lifestylerelated. (9) Evidence for the link between stress and cardiovascular disease was provided by the INTERHEART study, which demonstrated that the presence of psychosocial stressors is associated with increased risk of acute myocardial infarction in 24 767 people from 52 countries-including South Africa. (10)