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Natural Disasters and the Risk of Cardiovascular Disease

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Abstract

Cardiovascular events are a major cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. Such events can be triggered by both acute and chronic mental stress caused by a number of known stressors, one of these being natural disasters. Triggering of acute mental stress results in increased sympathetic output, disturbed endothelial function, and the creation of a hypercoagulable state. There is then the potential for vulnerable plaque to be ruptured, resulting in thrombosis, and subsequent myocardial infarction, or even death. Chronic mental stress contributes to the atherosclerotic process through increased allostatic load, and related chronic risk factors.

This chapter summarizes what is known about the relationship between natural disasters and cardiovascular disease. A review of the literature relating cardiovascular risk to natural disasters was undertaken and proposed underlying mechanisms of this relationship examined. The review then examines potential management of cardiovascular risk related to natural disasters, particularly focusing on psychological implications and strategies for management of both individual and population health.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Consultation-Liaison Service, Christchurch Public Hospital, Level 4, ward 29, Riverside Block, Christchurch, New Zealand

    Julie Zarifeh

  2. Department of Psychological Medicine, University of Otago, 2 Riccarton Avenue, 4345, Christchurch, New Zealand

    Roger Mulder

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  1. Julie Zarifeh
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  2. Roger Mulder
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Correspondence to Roger Mulder .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Monash Cardiovascular Research Centre, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia

    Marlies E. Alvarenga

  2. ANU Medical School, Australia National University, Canberra, Aust Capital Terr, Australia

    Don Byrne

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Zarifeh, J., Mulder, R. (2016). Natural Disasters and the Risk of Cardiovascular Disease. In: Alvarenga, M., Byrne, D. (eds) Handbook of Psychocardiology. Springer, Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-287-206-7_19

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