Chronic stress activates a biological cascade that can nearly double the probability of a heart attack, Argentine cardiologist Mario Boskis told a Buenos Aires television audience this week. The mechanism is now well mapped: sustained psychological strain triggers the release of cortisol, which elevates blood pressure, raises blood sugar, promotes weight gain and damages the endothelium lining blood vessels. Over time, this inflammatory process can lead to arterial obstructions. The warning carries particular weight in Argentina, where almost 49 per cent of adults describe themselves as stressed — the highest rate recorded globally, according to recent survey data cited by Boskis. The World Health Organization already ranks stress among the top public health challenges, linking it to depression and cardiovascular disease, while the American Psychological Association notes that elevated cortisol impairs memory and emotional regulation.

The problem is compounded by environmental factors. Researchers in São Paulo have detailed how extreme heat triggers a biological stress response known as thermal stress: the hypothalamus interprets sustained high temperatures as a threat, raising cortisol and draining the body’s energy reserves, which manifests as irritability, poor concentration and sleep disruption. Dehydration from excessive sweating further impairs nerve transmission, leaving individuals more vulnerable to anxiety and conflict. The phenomenon is not confined to adults. Psychologists in Jakarta point out that children, too, exhibit stress — often through withdrawal or intense tantrums — when family demands exceed their coping capacity, a dynamic that requires careful observation by parents.

A growing body of evidence from multiple continents suggests that simple, low-cost habits can interrupt the stress cycle before it becomes pathogenic. Health writers in Tehran advocate starting the day with water, taking a ten-minute walk after the main meal to help muscles use glucose, and exposing oneself to morning sunlight to regulate the circadian rhythm. Argentine and international specialists also recommend breathing exercises — such as inhaling for four seconds, holding for four, and exhaling for four — as a way to lower cortisol in real time. Psychologists in Buenos Aires caution that daytime sleepiness is often misattributed to stress when it is in fact caused by poor sleep hygiene: irregular bedtimes, interrupted rest, or sleeping in a room that is too bright or noisy. Addressing these habits can restore restorative sleep and reduce the perception of stress.

The clinical implications are now being taken seriously in cardiology practices. Boskis argued that stress should be screened for as routinely as cholesterol or blood pressure, because its cardiovascular impact is comparable. The next practical step, clinicians say, is to integrate brief stress assessments into primary care consultations, particularly in high-prevalence populations. As the evidence hardens, the medical community is moving away from treating stress as a vague psychological complaint and toward managing it as a tangible, modifiable risk factor.