BRAINCAKEStress and Atherosclerosis
Stress is the body's response to situations it sees as challenging or threatening. It may increase the risk of atherosclerosis, although the link is harder to study than for smoking or diet.
When a person is stressed, the adrenal glands release the hormones adrenaline and cortisol (the fight-or-flight response).
Adrenaline increases heart rate and causes arterioles to constrict. Both effects raise blood pressure. Cortisol raises blood glucose concentration.
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More in Cardiovascular Diseases
- Non-modifiable Risk Factors
- Modifiable Risk Factors
- Smoking and Atherosclerosis
- Exercise and Atherosclerosis
- Weight and Atherosclerosis
- Diet and Atherosclerosis
- Links Between Factors, Correlation and Causation
- Preventing Atherosclerosis
All 20 lessons in Cardiovascular Diseases · All Edexcel AS-level Biology topics