Are there any current studies on the physical effects of playing chess? In the 50s Eliot Hearst printed the results of a study in "Chess Life and Review" (A private publication by I A Horowitz editor later merged into the USCF's monthly magazine, and later renamed "Chess Life") that showed the impact playing chess had on things like BP and heart rate. 

Are there any more current studies that elaborate on those and extend the study to other ways chess affects humans?

Especially interested in more long term items as well as game time impacts that one could prepare for in advance.
I found a study from 2015 that seems to go into a lot of various aspects of chess and how it affects us physically.

"Biochemistry and Psychology of Chess and Classical Physical Exercise:Concurring or Conflicting Evidence?"

I am going to block-quote their "Abstract", which gives an overview, but you might want to read the full paper, which is only 10 pages long. It is fairly interesting.


  Abstract
  
  Chess is a competitive sport in the classical meaning of the word. One
  of the most important factors for chess and sport competence is the
  accumulated time of training. In order to obtain a high level of
  competence, chess layers and athletes alike must spend up 10 years of
  specific training.
  
  In chess and classical sport energy needed for brain activity is first
  derived from glycogen stores in brain, muscles and liver and later
  from adipose tissue. Both, chess and classical sport rely on shared
  energy from glycogen and fat.When  the  brain  needs  additional 
  energy,  muscles  and  liver  share  energy  with  the  brain.  When 
  muscles  need additional energy, brain complies with the request of
  muscles. Energy expenditure, O2 uptake and CO2 production during chess
  games are similar to those obtained during a marathon. Mental and
  physical fatigue begin with similar metabolic states: deprivation of
  glycogen. During competitive chess, athletes must be in good physical
  condition.
  
  Mental profiles of chess players and other athletes correlate with
  processes such as attention, conflict control,memory, motivation and
  recognition.
  
  In chess there exists no gender-specific excellence; glycogen
  availability, however, is less developed in female chess players.
  
  In chess and in classical sports, the brain, spinal cord, nerves and
  muscles cooperate in complete harmony. The brain commands everything:
  in chess the figures, in sport the cellular receptors (baro-,
  lactate-, gluco-, metabo-,chemo-, thermo-, respiratory-) “send”
  signals via eyes or metabolic changes to the brain. The brain then
  decides,what to do: in chess, the player moves a figure; in sports,
  muscles react according to demand.
  
  Physical exercise or chess must be defined by a motor activity
  completely controlled by the central nervous system (CNS) in
  combination with a specific competence. In chess as well as in
  physical exercise, physical stress prepares brain to cognitive
  stimulation.
  
  With respect to biochemical, physiological, neuronal and psychological
  aspects, chess is equals classical physical exercise and must be
  recognized as sport.


Here is another article, "7 Surprising Health Benefits of Playing Chess", that lists various benefits that can are certainly physically related, and cites the sources.