Stress and its role in sympathetic nervous system activation in hypertension and the metabolic syndrome.

Stress in several guises is evident in individuals with hypertension and in those with the metabolic syndrome and may account, at least in part, for the extent and pattern of sympathetic nervous activation. Importantly, elevated activity of the sympathetic nervous system is related to the development of obesity-related illnesses including hypertension, insulin resistance, and renal, cardiac, and vascular impairment. Notably, evidence of subclinical organ damage is evident even in young, normotensive, overweight persons, thereby reinforcing the need to develop and implement effective early intervention.