Emotions and Health: Current perspectives in the study of cardiovascular disorders

Since decades, cardiovascular disease has been the leading cause of mortality in industrialized countries, and its prevalence is increasing in the developing world, accounting for more than 45% of the deaths according to the World Health Organization. Additionally, and taking into account that psychological and medical research stated a strong relationship between several psychological variables and suffering cardiovascular diseases, it is not surprising that cardiovascular disorders are placed in the top rankings of Health Psychology. In the present paper, a review of the state-of-the-art in this field is carried out, focusing attention on cardiovascular disorders and on the role that anxiety, stress and anger play in such disorders. It is also presented a study in which the increasing pattern of these topics in the literature along the last 35 years is analysed. Futhermore, research results on the role of emotional reactions in myocardial infarction and essential hypertension are discussed, including our research outcomes.