ABSTRACT
The purpose of this chapter is to outline associations and examine mechanisms linking stress to the aetiology and prognosis of cardiovascular disease. Findings from population-based and clinical studies indicate that chronic stress is weakly or moderately associated with incident coronary heart disease, stroke and atrial fibrillation, and that episodic stress is moderately or strongly related to acute cardiac syndromes in vulnerable people. Plausible underlying mechanisms include indirect effects through adverse lifestyle changes, direct cardiometabolic effects associated with stress response, and transient processes contributing to the triggering of clinical events. Both chronic and episodic stress may play an important role in the progression of cardiovascular disease, contributing to an increased risk of recurrent events and death.
