Psychology 2035A/B Chapter 5: Chapter 5 – Psychology and Physical Health

• School: Western University
• Department: Psychology
• Course: Psychology 2035A/B
• Professor: Matthew Maxwell-Smith

Document Summary

This type of heart disease causes about 90% of heart-related deaths: atherosclerosis is the principal cause of coronary disease. This ischemia may be accompanied by brief chest pain, called angina, as well as shortness of breath. Smoking and diabetes are somewhat stronger risk factors for women than for men. Evidence is mounting that the swelling and reddening of arteries in the heart plays a key role in the initiation and progression of atherosclerosis, as well as the acute complications that trigger heart attacks. The presence of stress, anxiety, and depression, too, can be related to inflammation. Hostility and coronary risk: many people who smoked constantly, got little exercise, and were severely overweight still managed to avoid the ravages of heart disease. Meanwhile, others who seemed to be in much better shape with regard to these risk factors experienced the misfortune of a heart attack.