Abstract: There is increasing evidence that stress contributes to cardiovascular disease.Chronic stress can precipitate the atherosclerotic process through increased allostatic load,which is mediated by the neuroendocrine systems(sympathetic nervous system and hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal axis),and through related chronic risk factors(insulin resistance,hypertension,diabetes and hyperlipidemia).On the other hand,acute stress can trigger cardiovascular events through sympathetic nervous activation and enhancement of acute risk factors(increased blood pressure,endothelial cell dysfunction,increased blood viscosity,and platelet and hemostatic activation).Earthquake represents a good example of naturally occurring acute and chronic stress.Thus,in order to develop applicable prevention strategies,it is important to investigate factors and potential mechanisms by which cardiovascular events are triggered following earthquake.In this review we refine some possible mechanisms by which earthquake impacts on cardiovascular system from previously published literatures,and suggest some possible approaches to preventing cardiovascular events associated with earthquake.

Key words: earthquake, stress, cardiovascular disease, cardiovascular event, review