Psychology 2035A/B Lecture Notes - Lecture 8: Coronary Artery Disease, Inflammatory Bowel Disease, Coronary Circulation

• School: Western University
• Department: Psychology
• Course: Psychology 2035A/B
• Professor: John Campbell

Document Summary

Coronary heart disease results from a reduction in blood flow through the coronary arteries, which supply the heart with blood. " Atherosclerosis is a gradual narrowing of the coronary arteries, usually caused by buildup of fatty deposits and other debris on the inner walls. Inflammation of the arteries may contribute to atherosclerosis and elevated coronary risk. Research suggests a link between coronary risk and a behavior pattern termed the type a personality. The anger-hostility component of type a behavior has the strongest link to coronary disease. Research shows that individuals with above-average hostility scores were twice as likely to have atherosclerosis than were those with below-average hostility scores. Transient mental stress, and its resulting strong emotions, may tax the heart. Even brief periods of stress can trigger acute cardiac symptoms such as angina (chest pain). When interviewed after surviving a heart attack, many patients say that an episode of anger triggered the symptoms.