Life stress and hypertension

Based on psycho-physiological, clinical and epidemiological studies, essential arterial hypertension is considered to be a consequence of an inadequate 'person-environment fit', objectively, subjectively or both. Besides genetic predisposition, salt intake, obesity and physical inactivity, psychological factors--among them 'hyper-reactivity' of the sympathetic nervous system, predisposing behaviour patterns and stressful life-events--should be taken into account in reaching a better understanding of the causes, prediction and prevention of hypertension. It was demonstrated that a maladaptation in various functional systems, even to minor psycho-emotional stress, is an important pathogenetic link between environment, objectively defined stressors and blood pressure regulation from the earliest phases of the disease. Implications for further research and behavioural interventions, together with other lifestyle-related factors, are discussed for improving the population-based health care in cardiovascular disease in the G.D.R.