Chronic stress: a critical risk factor for atherosclerosis

Abstract

Chronic stress refers to the non-specific systemic reaction that occurs when the body is stimulated by various internal and external negative factors over a long time. The physiological response to chronic stress exposure has long been recognized as a potent modulator in the occurrence of atherosclerosis. Furthermore, research has confirmed the correlation between atherosclerosis and cardiovascular events. Chronic stress is pervasive during negative life events and may lead to the formation of plaque. Several epidemiological studies have shown that chronic stress is an independent risk factor for the development of vascular disease and for increased morbidity and mortality in patients with pre-existing coronary artery disease. One possible mechanism for this process is that chronic stress causes endothelial injury, directly activating macrophages, promoting foam cell formation and generating the formation of atherosclerotic plaque. This mechanism involves numerous variables, including inflammation, signal pathways, lipid metabolism and endothelial function. The mechanism of chronic stress in atherosclerosis should be further investigated to provide a theoretical basis for efforts to eliminate the effect of chronic stress on the cardiocerebral vascular system.

Canonical Correlation between Behavioral-Psychological Variables and Predictors of Coronary Artery Disease Prognosis

“…Negative affectivity appears to be a significant component for mental distress [13], and high negative affectivity has been characterized as experiencing enhanced feelings of dysphoria, anxiety, and irritability and a negative feeling towards oneself [22]. Individuals with negative affectivity are likely to be more focused on emotions, and, at the time of stress, cortisol is released as an effector hormone, which influences target organs such as the heart [23], leading to increased inflammation, which plays a critical role in the development of atherosclerosis [53]. As a result, responding emotionally to stressful situations may worsen the CAD prognosis.…”

Relationship between stress management and job performance in organizations

“…Severe stress is negative stress that disrupts the creative thinking performance of individuals (Wang et al, 2019: 472). Chronic stress is non-specific systemic reactions, which occur with the prolonged exposure of the individual to various internal and external negative factors (Yao et al, 2019(Yao et al, : 1429.…”

Psychosocial Risk Factors of Myocardial Infarction: Turning Threat to Opportunity

“…19 Chronic stress has been implicated in development and acceleration of atherosclerotic changes in the coronary arteries. 4 Variables that are commonly regarded as components of stress like depression and anxiety, social isolation and lack of social support, acute and chronic life events, psychosocial work characteristics, type A behavior and hostility have been suggested as independent risk factors for the development of CVDs including MI. 20 Lack of social support has been shown as a predictor of early onset and poor prognosis of MI leading to mortality in both sexes, but the evidence is more consistent and uniform in males than in females.…”

“…3 Chronic emotional disturbances, acting through biochemical and hormonal mechanisms, mediate arterial stiffness, atheromatous changes, coronary artery spasm and plaque rupture, all of which are implicated in the pathogenesis of MI. [4][5][6] The presence of potential psychosocial triggers or emotional factor is seen in almost half of the patients with MI. Patients have been shown to have had higher levels of mental stress during two to four weeks before presentation.…”