L41. Social Determinants of CVD Flashcards
What were the first Whitehall studies (1967-77): longitudinal cohort study
18000 British males graded according to work hierarchy and it found that the lower the hierarchy, the higher the probability of death.
They were associated with obesity, smoking, reduced leisure time, lower levels of exercise and higher blood pressure
What are the major risk factors of cardiovascular disease?
Smoking Hypertension Diabetes High cholesterol Age and gender Stress Alcohol Family history
What was the major factor that contributed to higher incidence of death due to cardiovascular disease?
STRESS - as a direct result of a lack of control over ones own work (less opportunity for autonomy, master new skills and successfully meet tasks)
What is the balance of stress?
Stress is useful in reasonable costs as a motivator that increases effectiveness
What is the difference between acute and chronic stress?
Acute: more alert, less perceptive to pain, the immune function goes up, HR goes up leading to more oxygenation and the body taps into supplies and less useful functions are abandoned.
Chronic: poor memory, depression, immune compromised, hypertension and risk of CVD, higher levels of infertility and acute abortion in women.
Why do people get stressed?
A natural flight or fight response as a result of a perceived threat including increased production of adrenaline. For those that are able to ‘cope’ with stress this response is useful. For others, this physiological response becomes pathological.
