Sustained stress produces cortisol and adrenaline chronically. These hormones raise blood pressure, increase heart rate, promote inflammation, and increase blood clotting tendency, all of which accelerate cardiovascular disease. Stress also drives poor sleep, physical inactivity, and overeating.
Mindfulness-based programmes reduce blood pressure and inflammatory markers. Social support and strong relationships are associated with lower heart disease risk. Working conditions characterised by high demand and low control are specifically linked to increased cardiac events in several large studies.