Relationship Between Stress and Cardiovascular Disorders

Question 1

What are cardiovascular disorders?

Answer 1

Disorders of the heart and blood vessels

Question 2

What is coronary heart disease (CHD)?

Answer 2

The narrowing of the blood vessels that serve the heart

Question 3

What causes CHD?

Answer 3

Thickening if the blood vessels called atherosclerosis, this usually occurs when a person has high levels of cholesterol

Question 4

What contributes to CHD?

Answer 4

Hypertension (high blood pressure), it also increases the likihood of a stroke

Question 5

How is stress and cardiovascular disorders linked directly?

Answer 5

Mental stress leads to fight or flight and adrenaline raises the blood pressure and heart rate. It causes blood vessels to constrict which restricts the amount of blood getting to the heart and increases demand for oxygen, makes a person more vulnerable

Question 6

How is stress and cardiovascular disorders linked indirectly?

Answer 6

Through adopting maladaptive coping strategies, for example people who are stressed may drink more and it may be the increase alcohol consumption which leads to cardiovascular disorders

Question 7

What did Cobb and Rose investigate?

Answer 7

Compared the medical records fo air traffic controllers with those of other air traffic personnel. The air traffic controllers had higher levels of hypertension, supports idea

Question 8

What did Rozanski et al investigate?

Answer 8

Some individuals are hyper responsive to stressors as the sympathetic branch of the ANS reacts more, leads to damage of the cardiovascular systems, individual differences

Question 9

What are 3 evaluation points?

Answer 9

• Doesn’t show cause and effect
• Studies often based on self report scales
• Stress may lead to unhealthy behaviours