Describe the evidence linking personality and emotional factors to coronary heart disease

Question

What will be an ideal response?

Answer 1

Historically, psychosomatic diseases were defined as physical ailments with a genuine organic basis that are caused in part by psychological factors, especially emotional distress (for example, hypertension, ulcers, asthma, eczema, and migraine headaches). Now we know that stress contributes to a diverse array of other diseases once thought to be completely physiologically based.

Heart disease is the leading cause of death in the U.S. , and reduction of blood flow in the coronary arteries is its principle cause. Risk factors for heart disease include smoking, lack of exercise, high cholesterol levels, and high blood pressure. Recently, researchers have shown that inflammation contributes to coronary disease, as do personality factors collectively labeled Type A personality. The hostility factor has been indicated as the most important predictor in this cluster of behaviors.

Emotional reactions can trigger cardiac symptoms in patients with stable coronary disease. Depressive disorders may also be a risk factor for heart disease, with some studies showing that its risk doubles with depression.