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Emotional stressors trigger cardiovascular events

B G Schwartz1, W J French, G S Mayeda

  • 1Heart Institute, Good Samaritan Hospital, Los Angeles, CA, USA.

International Journal of Clinical Practice
|June 16, 2012
PubMed

Insights

Acute emotional stress can trigger cardiovascular events like heart attacks by increasing sympathetic activity and promoting blood clotting. Therapies targeting this stress response may help prevent these dangerous cardiac events.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiology
  • Psychosomatic Medicine
  • Stress Physiology

Background:

  • Cardiovascular events represent a significant cause of morbidity and mortality globally.
  • Acute mental stress is increasingly recognized as a trigger for serious cardiovascular events.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To elucidate the relationship between emotional stress and cardiovascular events.
  • To review the literature on the cardiovascular effects of emotional stress.
  • To describe the underlying pathophysiology and potential therapeutic implications.

Main Methods:

  • Targeted literature searches were conducted using PubMed.
  • Existing author databases were supplemented to ensure comprehensive review.

Main Results:

  • Acute mental stress, from events like natural disasters or personal loss, can precipitate cardiovascular events.
  • Stress-induced mechanisms include increased sympathetic output, impaired endothelial function, and a hypercoagulable state.
  • These physiological changes can lead to vulnerable plaque rupture and thrombosis, potentially causing myocardial infarction or sudden cardiac death.

Conclusions:

  • Interventions targeting the stress-cardiac pathway may prevent stress-induced plaque rupture.
  • Evidence suggests beta-blockers, statins, and aspirin may reduce the incidence of stress-triggered myocardial infarctions.
  • Stress management techniques and transcendental meditation require further investigation for their therapeutic potential.
Abstract

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