Chronic Disorders (including heart disease) Flashcards
Minimum length of time a condition must last before it considered chronic
3 months
How many (out of 10) American adults have a chronic disease? How many have two or more?
6/10 have one; 4/10 have at least two
Most common chronic diseases (there are 6)
Heart disease, cancer, lung disease, stroke , Alzheimer’s, kidney disease
General focus of chronic disease treatment
Symptom management, in addition to or in lieu of curative measures
A four-week delay in cancer treatment onset increases mortality rate by ____%
6-8%
Rates of anxiety and depression in people with chronic diseases
Increased from the general population (up to 1 in 3 chronic disease patients also experience depression)
Self-rated health predicts death over and above ______ _______ indicators.
objective health
Effect of social support on chronic illness
More family/friend interaction = better!
Private self and chronic illness
Identity issues may occur with attained chronic health issues. May involve changes to hopes, goals, ambitions
Psychological interventions for chronic diseases
Relaxation techniques, therapy, social support, support groups
Leading Cause of Death in the US
Heart disease
Coronary heart disease - def. and cause
Def: clogging of the arteries (due to poor diet and exercise and high stress), which places increased stress on the heart and is damaging to tissues
Cause: atherosclerosis
Metabolic syndrome and heart disease
Group of conditions that increase risk for coronary heart disease (as well as diabetes and stroke). Three or more of the following: abdominal obesity, high BP, high blood sugar, high blood triglycerides, low HDL (good cholesterol)
Personal risk factors for coronary heart disease
Demographics, stress, personality, depression
Which area of the country has disproportionately high rates of heart disease-related deaths?
The southern states, the top three being:
- Mississippi
- Oklahoma
- Alabama
(GA is at 15)
In the states where heart disease deaths are disprportionately common, how does their healthcare rank.
Mississippi: 50/50
Arkansas: 49/50
Oklahoma: 48/50
(GA is 43/50)
Developing coronary heart disease before age ___ is rare
50 years old
__% of coronary heart disease deaths are in adults ages 65 or older
80%
Which biological sex is more likely to die from heart disease?
Males (but the difference is not as large as one may think). Difference is possibly due to higher rate of obesity among males
*Direct and Indirect effects of stress on heart disease
Direct: chronic stress can induce the physiological changes associated with heart disease
Indirect: stress leads to lifestyle choices that increase one’s risk of heart disease
Which type (A/B) is more likely to develop heart disease?
Type A (significantly!) mainly because of the hostility element of Type A
Personality traits with protective effect against heart disease
Extraversion, agreeableness (linked with optimism), and conscientiousness
Neuroticism and heart disease
Higher neuroticism appears to worsen the impact of heart disease
Depression and heart disease
Mutual relationship (both increase each other)
__% of patients with heart disease also heave depression
40%
Additional life factors that impact heart disease (aside from diet and exercise)
Emotion-focused coping (improves recovery)
Social relationships/marriage (reduces severity)
Negative affectivity (predicts onset)
Treatments for Heart Disease
Lifestyle changes, medicine (blood thinners, statins, others), sergery (stents, CABG, transplant [extreme])
Effect of CBT on heart disease recovery
Reduces depression, anxiety, BMI; improves physical and mental functioning
