NEUROANATOMSKI MEHANIZMI STRESA I NJEGOVE POSLJEDICE NA KARDIOVASKULARNO ZDRAVLJE ŽENA
NEUROANATOMICAL MECHANISMS OF STRESS AND ITS CONSEQUENCES ON WOMEN'S CARDIOVASCULAR HEALTH

Summary/Abstract: Psychosocial stress has a significant impact on cardiovascular health, with women being particularly susceptible to stress-induced cardiovascular changes. The neuroanatomical basis of stress involves key brain structures, such as the anterior cingulate cortex, amygdala, and insular cortex, which regulate the autonomic nervous system and the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA)axis. Their role in stress processing directly affects cardiovascular reactivity, where repeated and metabolically disproportionate responses can contribute to the development of hypertension, atherosclerosis, and major cardiovascular events. This paper analyzes the neuroanatomical mechanisms of stress and its impact on the cardiovascular system in women, focusing on patterns of cardiovascular reactivity and long-term consequences of stress. Special attention is given to sex differences in stress perception and response, as women are more prone to microvascular dysfunction and inflammatory processes, which further increase cardiovascular risk. Understanding these mechanisms can aid in developing targeted prevention and treatment strategies. Future research directions should include longitudinal studies on the effects of chronic stress on vascular health in women, as well as the evaluation of personalized therapeutic approaches that could mitigate the adverse cardiovascular effects of stress.

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