title: Psychosocial stress and cardiovascular disease risk: the role of physical activity.
abstract: Chronic stress and depression are associated with increased risk of cardiovascular disease and poorer prognosis, and physical (in)activity may be a key underlying biobehavioral mechanism. Physical activity has antidepressant effects, and physically fitter, more active individuals seem to be more biologically resilient to psychosocial stressors. This article will present data from a series of population cohort studies and laboratory-based psychophysiological studies to explore the role of physical activity as a protective factor against the effects of psychosocial stress on cardiovascular disease. These mechanisms may improve the treatment and prevention of stress-related illnesses and, thus, has important implications for public health and clinical care of high-risk patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, University College of London, UK. m.hamer@ucl.ac.uk
authors.forename: Mark
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hamer
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000339:Affect / Q000502:physiology; D000368:Aged; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000502:physiology; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000523:psychology*; D015897:Comorbidity; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000523:psychology; D004298:Dopamine / Q000502:physiology; D015444:Exercise / Q000502:physiology / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000523:psychology; D018836:Inflammation Mediators / Q000097:blood; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009043:Motor Activity / Q000502:physiology; D009433:Neural Inhibition / Q000502:physiology; D009490:Neurosecretory Systems / Q000503:physiopathology; D012307:Risk Factors; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000150:complications* / Q000503:physiopathology; D013564:Sympathetic Nervous System / Q000503:physiopathology; D014655:Vascular Resistance / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D018836:Inflammation Mediators; D004298:Dopamine