Stress and Cardiovascular Disease Perhaps the most documented health consequence of unresolved stress is cardiovascular disease (CVD). Research has demonstrated the impact of chronic stress on heart rate, blood pressure, heart attack, and stroke.9 The INTERHEART Study, which followed almost 30,000 participants in 52 countries, identified stress as one of the key modifiable risk factors for heart attack. Historically, the increased risk of CVD from chronic stress has been linked to arterial plaque build-up due to elevated cholesterol, hardening of the arteries, alterations in heart rhythm, increased and fluctuating blood pressures, and difficulties in cardiovascular responsiveness. Research has also shown direct links between CVD and external
