Health Psych Final

What are atherosclerosis?

build up of fat in the arteries which restricts blood flow

What is arteriosclerosis

Hardening of arteries, blood vessels loose elasticity

What is Angina Pectoris?

Extreme chest pain caused by restriction of blood supply to heart

What is Myocardial Infarction?

Heart attack, permanent death of heart tissue

What is an EKG?

Measures electrical discharges

What is a coronary angiography?

Dye is injected so an x-ray can observe obstructions in coronary arteries

What is cardiac medication?

Beta-blockers, calcium-channel blockers, vasodilators, anticoagulants, thrombolytic agents

What is a coronary bypass graft?

Healthy vein is surgically grafted around damaged artery

What is a coronary angioplasty?

Inflatable catheter is used to open a blocked coronary artery

Controllable factors

Hypertension, obesity, cholesterol over 240, diet

Uncontrollable factors

Metabolic syndrome, genetic issues

What is metabolic syndrome?

Results in large waist circumference, elevated serum triglyceride, low HDL levels, elevated blood pressure, glucose intolerance

What is cardiovascular reactivity?

Reaction to stress, including changes like heart rate, blood pressure and hormones

Psychosocial factors in cardiovascular disease

Type A and Type B personalities

How do anger and hostility promote CVD?

Multiple hypothesis, mostly including that hostility and anger elevate levels that eventually damage the cardiovascular system

What is the Psychophysiological Reactivity Model?

Anger and hostility increase hormones and blood pressure, damaging blood vessels

Reducing the risk of CVD

Control hypertension, reduce cholesterol, stress management

What is Type 1 Diabetes

Also known as adolescent diabetes, immune system attacks glucagon and insulin producing islet cells

What is Type 2 Diabetes?

Also known as adult-onset diabetes, insulin resistance

What is hypoglycemia?

Blood sugar is too low

What is hyperglycemia?

Blood sugar is too high

What are the causes of diabetes?

Viral or bacterial injections that damage islet cells, overreactive immune system, genetic vulnerability, western diet

What are the treatments for diabetes?

Weight management, increase physical activity, better diet, medication

What is blood glucose awareness training?

Education programs for those with diabetes to better understand their condition

What is illness intrusiveness?

Illness affecting day-to-day activities

What is cancer?

Rapid growth of cells

What is a malingant tumor?

Cancerous tumor

What is a benign tumor?

Non-cancerous tumor

What is carcinoma?

Cancer in the linings of organs, tissue, etc

What is sarcoma?

Cancer in the soft tissue and bone

What is lymphoma?

Cancer in the lymphs

What is leukemia?

Cancer in the blood

What is cancer susceptibility?

Older people, African Americans

What are risk factors for cancer?

Poor diet, tobacco use, carcinogens

Environmental and occupational hazards?

Toxic chemicals, radiation, melanoma

What is immunocomptetence?

Immune systems ability to respond and fight off infection

What is immune surveillance theory?

Theory that immune system monitors for any infection and fights it off as soon as detected

What is a Type C personality?

Cancer-prone. Non-complaining, passive person

Surgery in cancer treatment

Removal of tumor or graft of healthy skin

What is chemotherapy?

Cancer-fighting drug in medication form that helps immune system fight off infection

What is radiation therapy?

Use of x-rays and other forms of radiation to destroy malignant tumors

What is AIDS?

Life-threatening disease caused by HIV. Body’s CD4 lymphocytes are destroyed, leaving person open to opportunistic infection

What is HIV?

Human immunodeficiency virus. Retrovirus that causes AIDS. Injects self into genome of lymphocytes, reproducing every time cell is activated

History of AIDS

Started with Gaetan. By 1980, men were being diagnosed with Kaposi’s sarcoma. In 1984, HIV is located. In the late 1980s, the disease was spreading to more than white gay men. 1991 marked the 100,000th victim. 1993, the 200,000th victim. By 2006, there were over 25mi deaths associated with AIDS.

Gender and AIDS

Men are more likely to have AIDS, women are more likely to catch it. More of the disease is found in ejaculate. Women progress to AIDS much more rapidly than men.

Demographics of AIDS

Worldwide, equal numbers. In the US, mostly black gay men who have it.

How is HIV transmitted?

Through a tear in the skin or through a mucous membrane

Symptoms of AIDS

Swollen lymph nodes, flu-like symptoms in the first two stages

Stages of AIDS

1. Person is infected, infection is fought off

2. T cell levels are high, HIV concentration is high but quickly goes down

3. T cell levels are dropping, HIV levels are increasing. Immune system is compromised and person is left vulnerable to opportunistic infection

4. AIDS diagnosis

What is AIDS dementia complex?

AIDS-related memory impairment

HAART regiment

Tons of medication that prevent HIV progression, very expensive

Social Cognitive Theory and AIDS

determined relationships

Perceived social norms and AIDS

Regarding acceptance of risk-behaviors

Self-efficacy and AIDS

Controlling thoughts, emotions

Social skills and AIDS

Respond assertively in negotiating risky behaviors

Optimistic bias and AIDS

Can stop someone from getting adequate treatment

Perceived invincibility and AIDS

Can stop someone from getting adequate treatment

What is complementary and alternative medicine (CAM)?

Therapy that falls outside of conventional biomedicine

What are the three domains of CAM?

1. Natural

2. Holistic

3. Promotes wellness

What is integrative medicine?

Use of both CAM and traditional medicines

What is vitalism?

Concept of general life force

What is traditional oriental medicine?

Herb-integrated, acupuncture

What constitutes evidence?

Differences in perspectives

CAM evidence is based on what?

May rely on self-report and single outcome measures

Why do placebos work?

• Decreases anxiety

• Classical conditioning

• Remembered wellness

What is acupuncture?

Use of needles into parts of the body to relieve some sort of pain

Does acupuncture work?

For drug addicts, otherwise results are mixed

What are mind-body therapies?

• Hypnosis

• Relaxation

• Meditation

• Spiritual healing

Does hypnosis work?

Can work for those who are fantasy-prone and responsive to authority figures

What is mindfulness meditation?

Nonjudgemental, in-the-moment, stream of consciousness perceptions

What is transcendental mediation?

Focused consciousness, mantra

How does relaxation and mediation promote health?

Lowers blood pressure and breathing

5 health challenges posed

1. To increase span of healthy life

2. To reduce health differences in race, gender, socioeconomic status

3. To achieve equal access to preventative health care

4. To maximize health promotion with evidence

5. To assist in healthcare reform