Life Situations, Emotions, and the Course of Patients with Arterial Hypertension

Abstract

The relationship between emotionally stressful life situations and the course of hypertensive disease was studied in 230 unselected patients. The study continued over a period of 5 yrs. and included observations on "the natural course of the disease, the role of emotional factors, physiologic mechanisms involved, and the response of the patients to various pharmacologic agents and therapeutic procedures." The data collected indicate that emotionally stressful life sitautions are an important factor in the life of the patient at the time of onset of arterial hypertension, and that emotional stress plays a major role in the course of the disease, promoting exacerbation of symptoms and the development of complications.