PSYC 328 Lecture Notes - Lecture 18: Cardiovascular Disease, Atherosclerosis, Aneurysm

• School: McGill University
• Department: Psychology
• Course: PSYC 328
• Professor: Agnes Baerbel Knaeuper

Document Summary

Sodium sensitivity and reactivity as a predictor for high blood pressure. Some countries have been doing a lot to raise awareness about high sodium consumption. Finland as an example- resulted in lower sodium consumption in the country and with the correlation with low blood pressure and lives saved. Today- stress as a contributor to cardiovascular disease. Stress increases bp in the short term with all the stuff we learned about fight or flight. Advantage that the body has a reaction to short term stressors. Question is when it is harmful is when high bp even when not in stressful situations. A lot of evidence and the common denominator is that long term situations that produce irritation and annoyance can lead to higher bp even when they are not in the stressful situation. Air traffic controllers have elevated blood pressure- high risk profession that leads to higher bp even when they are not working.