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The emotional stress and risk of ischemic stroke
Affiliations- Department of Neurology, Pomeranian Medical University in Szczecin, Szczecin, Poland
- Department of Gynaecology and Urogynaecology, Pomeranian Medical University, Szczecin, Poland
open access
Abstract
Stroke is the second leading cause of death worldwide, and the leading cause of acquired disability in adults in most regions. There have been distinguished modifiable and non-modifiable risk factors of stroke. Among them the emotional stress was presented as a risk factor. The aim of this review was to present available data regarding the influence of acute and chronic mental stress on the risk of ischemic stroke as well as discussing the potential pathomechanisms of such relationship. There is an evident association between both acute and chronic emotional stress and risk of stroke. Several potential mechanisms are discussed to be the cause. Stress can increase the cerebrovascular disease risk by modulating symphaticomimetic activity, affecting the blood pressure reactivity, cerebral endothelium, coagulation or heart rhythm. The emotional stress seems to be still underestimated risk factor in neurological practice and research. Further studies and analyses should be provided for better understanding of this complex, not fully known epidemiological problem.
Abstract
Stroke is the second leading cause of death worldwide, and the leading cause of acquired disability in adults in most regions. There have been distinguished modifiable and non-modifiable risk factors of stroke. Among them the emotional stress was presented as a risk factor. The aim of this review was to present available data regarding the influence of acute and chronic mental stress on the risk of ischemic stroke as well as discussing the potential pathomechanisms of such relationship. There is an evident association between both acute and chronic emotional stress and risk of stroke. Several potential mechanisms are discussed to be the cause. Stress can increase the cerebrovascular disease risk by modulating symphaticomimetic activity, affecting the blood pressure reactivity, cerebral endothelium, coagulation or heart rhythm. The emotional stress seems to be still underestimated risk factor in neurological practice and research. Further studies and analyses should be provided for better understanding of this complex, not fully known epidemiological problem.
Keywords
Risk factor, Emotional stress, Cerebral stroke
About this articleTitle
The emotional stress and risk of ischemic stroke
Journal
Neurologia i Neurochirurgia Polska
Issue
Pages
265-270
Page views
1707
Article views/downloads
2327
DOI
10.1016/j.pjnns.2016.03.006
Bibliographic record
Neurol Neurochir Pol 2016;50(4):265-270.
Keywords
Risk factor
Emotional stress
Cerebral stroke
Authors
Dariusz Kotlęga
Monika Gołąb-Janowska
Marta Masztalewicz
Sylwester Ciećwież
Przemysław Nowacki
