Abstract
Examines the relationship of cardiovascular reactivity to hypertension. This chapter begins with a definition of reactivity and a discussion of the so-called "reactivity hypothesis," including the potential utility of using laboratory studies of reactivity to understand the relationship of stressful events to the pathobiology of cardiovascular disease. Reactivity is then discussed in terms of its usefulness as a predictor of future hypertension, as well as its potential role as a risk factor in the psychogenesis of this disorder. This chapter reviews much of the cardiovascular reactivity literature and makes a strong case for the study of reactivity in controlled laboratory settings. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2021 APA, all rights reserved)