Long-term stress negatively affects the cardiovascular system mainly through prolonged elevation of stress hormones like cortisol and adrenaline. These hormones raise blood pressure and heart rate, promote inflammation, and alter cholesterol and blood sugar metabolism. Chronic stress can cause buildup of plaque in arteries (atherosclerosis), increasing the risk of heart attack, stroke, arrhythmias, and heart failure. In addition, chronic stress often leads to unhealthy behaviors such as poor diet, smoking, and alcohol use, which further raise cardiovascular risk. The immune response is also altered, where stress stimulates bone marrow to produce inflammatory immune cells that inflame blood vessel walls, worsening artery blockages. Overall, this combination of physiological and behavioral effects results in higher long- term risk of cardiovascular disease and potentially fatal cardiac events.
Hormonal Effects and Blood Pressure
Chronic stress keeps cortisol and adrenaline levels elevated, causing sustained high blood pressure and rapid heart rate. This added strain can damage the heart and arteries over time, contributing to hypertension, a major heart disease risk factor.
Inflammation and Atherosclerosis
Stress-induced inflammation promotes plaque formation and instability in arteries, which may lead to heart attacks or strokes when plaques rupture. This chronic inflammation is mediated by immune cells produced excessively by bone marrow under stress.
Arrhythmias and Other Heart Conditions
Long-term stress increases the risk of abnormal heart rhythms (arrhythmias), which can worsen pre-existing heart conditions and increase risks of sudden cardiac death.
Behavioral Impact
Chronic stress may encourage unhealthy lifestyle choices like smoking, poor diet, and alcohol consumption, all of which exacerbate cardiovascular risk factors such as high cholesterol and hypertension.
Thus, the cardiovascular system is adversely affected by both the biological consequences of long-term stress and the associated lifestyle changes that stress often triggers.