Psychological stress and cardiovascular disease risk - are we sitting on a health crisis?

Dr Nicola Paine, School of Sport, Exercise and Health Sciences: Psychological stress and cardiovascular disease risk - are we sitting on a health crisis?

Acute psychological stress is a risk factor for cardiovascular disease development and has also been reported as a trigger for acute cardiovascular events such as heart attacks. Under acute stress, physiological changes in cardiovascular and inflammatory markers are observed, which could have important implications for the risk of future cardiovascular disease development and outcomes.

Health behaviours such as physical activity and sitting time are also established risk factors for cardiovascular disease and may interact with physiological changes seen under stress. Dr Paine will present some of her work on these topics and how being more active, and less sedentary may help to reduce stress-related cardiovascular disease risk.