Psychology 2035A/B Chapter Notes - Chapter 5: Cardiology, Cardiovascular Disease, Angina Pectoris

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

Document Summary

Biopsychosocial model: holds that physical illness is caused by a complex interaction of biological, psychological, and sociocultural factors. Health psychology: concerned with how psychosocial factors relate to the promotion and maintenance of health and with the causation, prevention, and treatment of illness. A person"s characteristic demeanor can influence his or her physical health. Personality is made up of the unique grouping of behavioral traits that a person exhibits consistently across situations. We begin with a look at heart disease, far and away the leading cause of death in north america. Atherosclerosis: a gradual narrowing of the coronary arteries. Narrowed coronary arteries may eventually lead to situations in which the heart is temporarily deprived of adequate blood flow, causing a condition known as myocardial ischemia. This ischemia may be accompanied by brief chest pain, called angina, as well as shortness of breath.