title: Effects of psychological factors on the development of cardiovascular pathology: role of the immune system and infection.
abstract: Psychological factors affect the condition of both healthy and sick people. Acute and chronic stress, depression, anxiety, maladaptive personality traits, and other behavioral disorders cause the diseases of the heart and blood vessels. The same psychological factors suppress the immune system and promote infection. Recent studies have demonstrated that infections can play an important role in the development of coronary artery disease. The author suggests that the immune system may mediate the harmful effects of certain psychological factors on the cardiovascular system.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Sher
mesh_terms: D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000276:immunology* / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans