Relationship between psychosocial stressors and hypertension and vascular risk

Psychosocial stress can result from a wide variety of causes and circumstances. The experience of stress is often unique and highly personal, but with common physiological responses. It is expected to increase in the modern world, which is undergoing rapid social, cultural and technological change. In this narrative review we present psychosocial factors impacting hypertension (HT) and vascular risk (VR) and propose strategies for detection and management of their main clinical consequences. Psychosocial stress more than doubles the risk of HT, with work-related stress and low socioeconomic status being the most related factors. The factors most strongly associated with increased VR were informal care of dependents, lower socioeconomic status, marital status (single, divorced or widowed) and loneliness. Individual and collective psychosocial stress prevention strategies may be crucial in reducing the prevalence of HT and VR.