The stress response is highly controlled by the autonomic nervous system, whereas sympathetic activation is related to a reaction to an acute stressor, being highly adaptative and allowing humans to respond to the threat. When stressors become chronic, the sympathetic hyperactivity could lead to increase the risk of conditions such as obesity, cancer, heart disease, hypertension, diabetes, depression, and gastrointestinal problems.

The autonomic modulation is mainly influenced by stress experienced by the individual, derived from a physiological or a psychological origin. Specifically, the role of the autonomic nervous system in the pathogenesis and progression of cardiovascular diseases is a topic with increasing interest in the scientific literature. Increased sympathetic modulation was associated with several diseases; in contrary greater vagal tone was associated with improved cardiovascular health. The knowledge of autonomic alterations due to stress could be a powerful diagnostic and treatment tool for cardiovascular pathologies, thus helping practitioners and doctors. The aim of this special issue is to advance in the knowledge of the effect of stress in the autonomic nervous system and cardiovascular systems, as well as looking at the alterations produced by acute and chronic exposure to stressors, in different professional groups, as well as recreational and elite athletes, which could help to diagnosis and treat cardiovascular diseases.

We welcome the submission of original research and review articles from cardiologists, general practitioners, researchers, and fitness professionals such as physiotherapists.

Potential topics include but are not limited to the following:

• Acute and chronic cardiovascular and autonomic modifications related to different types of stress in various professional groups
• Acute and chronic effects of different types of exercise on stress symptoms and heart disease in recreational and elite athletes
• Cardiovascular and autonomic pathological modifications due to the exposition of long-term psychological stress
• Cardiovascular and autonomic modifications in acute high stress events
• Autonomical modification due to stress in patients with systemic hypertension, arrhythmia, congestive heart failure, valvular heart disease, vascular disease, congenital heart disease, and cardiomyopathy
• Heart rate variability parameters related to stress levels in various professional groups and sports
• Heart rate variability as a tool for promoting psychophysiological research and applications in real-life settings