Vol. 7, Issue 2, Part B (2025)

Stress is an inevitable part of human life, and its physiological impact on the cardiovascular system is profound. The body responds to stress through activation of the sympathetic-adrenal-medullary (SAM) system and the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis, resulting in the release of catecholamines and cortisol. While these hormones are essential for short-term adaptation, chronic elevation disrupts normal heart function, promoting arrhythmias, hypertrophy, ischemia, and heart failure. This review explores the mechanisms by which stress hormones act on the normal human heart, distinguishing between acute and chronic effects, and highlights molecular pathways, clinical consequences, and therapeutic implications. Understanding these processes is critical for developing preventive and treatment strategies against stress-induced cardiac dysfunction.