Cardiovascular Disease Triggered by Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Adrenal Axis Activation Following Stress Stimulation

Recent research has emphasized the connection between numerous psychological conditions, such as depression, chronic stress, posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), anxiety, and cardiovascular disease (CVD). This chapter will discuss the psychobiological mechanisms of stress and important brain-heart connections that support the emergence of CVD. The relationship among depression, anxiety and CVD is studied as well as the possible processes that raise the risk of CVD in those who have these diseases. The development of CVD in people with psychiatric diseases is linked to metabolic and immunologic maladaptation, dysregulation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis, and sympathetic nervous system dysfunction. The study also emphasizes how social support, personality traits, and hereditary factors can all contribute to reducing the negative effects of stress on cardiovascular health. The study ends by highlighting the need for more research to clarify the intricate interactions between stress and CVD, with a focus on coronary heart disease (CHD) and stroke.