Cardiovascular Reactivity to Psychological Stress and Disease

The purpose of this volume is to evaluate the evidence concerning the cardiovascular reactivity hypothesis, which, in its simplest form, is that excess cardiovascular reactivity to psychological stress may constitute a risk factor for cardiovascular disease. This volume aims to further define, focus and refine this hypothesis by asking such questions as the following: What precisely do we mean when we speak of cardiovascular reactivity? What is properly considered excess reactivity? What is psychological stress? Is there a reliable relationship between stress and cardiovascular reactivity? What are the pathophysiological mechanisms that mediate the relationship between excess cardiovascular reactivity and its presumed endpoint, cardiovascular disease?