Mental stress and the cardiovascular system part III. chronic mental stress and cardiovascular disease: personality and behavior

In this portion of our review of mental stress and the cardiovascular system, we focus on type A behavior and hostility as a component of that behavior. For more than 30 years, clinicians and investigators have studied the relationship between behavior and cardiovascular disease. Despite these efforts, evidence remains divided on whether specific behavioral patterns adversely impact on the development, progression, and outcome of cardiovascular disease. The cardiovascular response to earthquakes in subjects with preexisting coronary artery disease provides a particularly useful model with which to study stress-induced cardiovascular changes in vulnerable patients.

Even though no preponderance of evidence links behavioral patterns with cardiovascular disease, we hope that medical professionals will provide their patients with general guidelines to reduce mental stress derived from adverse behavioral patterns and personality trait hostility. Stress reduction usually promotes mental health, yields a greater capacity to live a healthy life, and helps patients comply with somatic and nonsomatic treatments of their cardiovascular illnesses.