Download Introduction to Psychology Health-Lecture Notes-Psychology and more Study notes Psychology in PDF only on Docsity! 1 Stress & Health Psychology Patterns of Disease and Death • Infectious Disease & Chronic Diseases – infectious disease- faster progression/less affected by preventive individual behaviors – chronic disease/condition- develop/persist over time, affected/modified by preventive behavior • In 1900- of 10 leading causes of death, – 5 are infectious disease, 5 chronic disease/behavioral – influenza/pneumonia tuberculosis – diphtheriatyphoid fever measles • In 1997, 9 are chronic/behavioral, 2 infectious – CVD Cancer Kidney Disease – COPD Diabetes Accidents – Liver Disease/Cirrhosis Suicide – Alzheimer's Effect of changing patterns of disease • Shift in attention from Public/Community health concerns to individually mediated health practices • Individual Behaviors affect occurrence and progression of disease – Lifestyle factors could prevent 1 mil deaths/year (+50%) • diet exercise stress levels sleep • smoking sexual practices drinking etc. • personal hygiene (e.g. dental) Estimated contributions of different factors to health status. 30% 20% 40% 10% Other Factors Genetic Behaviour Medical Care 2 Source: WHO (2000) Life expectancy at birth 0 20 40 60 80 100 120 140 160 19 80 19 81 19 82 19 83 19 84 19 85 19 86 19 87 19 88 19 89 19 90 19 91 19 92 19 93 19 94 19 95 19 96 19 97 P e r ca p it a ci g ar e tt e c o n s u m p ti o n (p ac k s / ye ar ) California USA, excluding California Aggressive campaign period California Tobacco Control Program Source: Fichtenberg. (2000). N Engl J M. 343(24): 1772-1777 Stress • Eustress – Positive • Distress – Negative • Why? – Flight or Fight Response • Either response needs body to move! Sympathetic Response to Stress Hypothalamus causes: Increases arousal in the sympathetic nervous system • Increased heart rate & blood pressure • Constriction of peripheral blood vessels • Respiration rates increase • Bronchial tubes dilate • Pupils dilate • Digestive processes decrease Sympathetic activation prepares the body for intense motor activity
