The Impact of Stress on the Development of Cardiovascular Diseases

Background: Cardiovascular disease (CVD) remains the leading cause of death worldwide despite advances in the identification and treatment of classic risk factors. Accumulating evidence suggests that psychosocial stress may play a significant role in the development and progression of CVD through biological and behavioral mechanisms. Objective: The aim of the study was to summarize the current knowledge on the relationship between psychosocial stress and cardiovascular diseases, with particular emphasis on the pathophysiological mechanisms underlying this relationship and the possibilities of stress reduction in the prevention and treatment of CVD. Methods: A narrative literature review was conducted using PubMed, Nature Reviews, and Google Scholar. Scientific publications published primarily between 2014 and 2025 were analyzed, including systematic reviews, meta-analyses, cohort studies, clinical trials, experimental studies, and epidemiological reports. Papers on the biological and psychological mechanisms linking psychosocial stress with cardiovascular diseases and interventions aimed at reducing stress were included. Results: Psychosocial stress should be viewed as a multidimensional risk factor for cardiovascular disease, potentially contributing to both its development and progression. Incorporating stress assessment and implementing effective stress reduction strategies may be a valuable complement to current CVD prevention and treatment strategies. Further research involving large patient populations is needed to determine the role of stress-reducing interventions in routine cardiac care.