Psychological stress and acknowledgement of its value as a first order cardiovascular risk factor

: The paper contains analysis of results of recent studies of relationships between stress and cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. A variety of stress reactions are depicted: acute stress, chronic stress, as well as models of work stress. Pathophysiologic mechanisms of links between stress and cardiovascular morbidity and mortality are discussed, and most effective methods of correction of elevated levels of stress and their clinical and prognostic value for treatment of ischemic heart disease are presented.