Psychology 2035A/B Chapter Notes - Chapter 5: Coronary Artery Disease, Coronary Circulation, Cardiovascular Disease

• School: Western University
• Department: Psychology
• Course: Psychology 2035A/B
• Professor: Doug Hazlewood

Document Summary

Lifestyle and stress play a much larger role in the development of chronic diseases than they do in contagious diseases. Today, the three leading chronic diseases (heart disease, cancer, and stroke) account for almost 60% of all deaths in the us. The biopsychosocial model holds that physical illness is caused by a complex interaction of biological, psychological, and sociocultural factors. Health psychology is concerned with how psychosocial factors relate to the promotion and maintenance of health and with the causation, prevention, and treatment of illness. Coronary heart disease results from a reduction in blood flow through the coronary arteries, which supply the heart with blood. This disease causes about 90% of heart related deaths. Artherosclerosis is the primary cause of coronary disease. Artherosclerosis is a gradual narrowing of the coronary artieries, usually caused by a buildup of fatty deposits. Myocardial ischema is when the heart is temporarily deprived adequate blood flow and results in chest pain called angina.