Posttraumatic stress disorder and cardiovascular diseases

Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is general among populations of veterans and military personnel in active service as well as those who have experienced great physical and psychological trauma. Clinical and epidemiological studies have confirmed that the prevalence of PTSD will increase the risk of hypertension, high cholesterol, obesity and cardiovascular diseases. The main mechanism of PTSD is as follows: the sympathetic adrenal axis excitement leads to an increase of catecholamine secretion, thereby affecting the functions of the heart, blood vessels and platelets, and increases the incidence of cardiovascular diseases. This article reviews the connection between PTSD and risk factors for hypertension as well as other cardiovascular diseases. It also elaborates the relationship between PTSD and cardiovascular diseases.