Significant research studies have identified the relationship between long-term stress and cardiovascular health regression from a medical approach. However, medical approaches have emerged, conceptualizing how psychopathological and physiological conditions reveal underlying causes of mental disorders and medical diseases. According to U.S. News (2024), in today's workforce, medical and healthcare professionals, law enforcement, military service members, and first and emergency responders rank among the most stressful jobs in the United States. Stress continues to emerge as the number-one silent killer: A significant relationship between stress and cardiovascular disease is no longer unavoidable, and failing to address the concern can be deadly.

Scientific theories postulate that chronic stress is not the only concern and that acute stress is just as dangerous, with severe medical implications. Chronic stress escalates cortisol levels and inflammation due to the long-term activation of the body’s stress response. Increased cortisol and inflammation eventually cause artery plaque buildup, which can lead to coronary artery disease (CAD) (Lampert, 2024).

CAD, caused by atherosclerosis progression, is one of the most common heart diseases exponentially increasing in populations within the United States. Such medical symptoms include chest pain, lightheadedness, ischemic injury, increased heart rate, indigestion, stroke, heart attack, and heart failure. Chronic stress poses similar symptoms, such as angina, tachycardia, dizziness, indigestion, weight gain, muscle tension, fatigue, and chest pains, to name a few (Yale Medicine, 2024).

Like chronic stress, the biological action of acute stress causes a rapid increase in catecholamines, our “fight or flight” hormones, which are controlled by the sympathetic nervous system (SNS). The SNS is responsible for our immediate response to stimuli, such as emotional or physical stress and cognitive alertness, which is essential in stressful situations. However, excessive adrenaline causes rapid heart and blood pressure rates, resulting in........

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