Psychological Factors Affecting Physical Health​

Module 2

Psychosomatic disorders 

Physical disorders in which psychological factors are believed to play a causal or contributing role.​

Psychosomatic medicine ​

Explores health-relatedconnections between themind and the body 

Headaches

May be classified as stress related in the absence of other symptoms 

Tension headache 

Most frequent kind of headache, resulting from stress.​

Migraine headache

Complex neurological disorder, Lasting hours or days​, Piercing or throbbing sensations​, Aura preceding the attack

Tension headache - theoretical perspective

May involve increased sensitivity of the neural pathways that send pain signals to the brain

Migraine headache - theoretical perspective

• Possible underlying centralnervous system disorder​

• Neurotransmitter serotonin​

• Strong genetic component

Headaches - Treatment

Drug therapy, Psychological treatments

Psychological treatments (Headaches)

• Biofeedback training​

• Relaxation​

• Coping skills training​

• Cognitive behavior therapy

Cardiovascular Disease

• Disease or disorder of the cardiovascular system​

• Age, family history risks​

• Lifestyle risks

Coronary heart disease (C H D)

• Major form of cardiovascular disease​

• Leading cause of death for both men and women

Factors Affecting Heart Disease​ - Negative Emotions

• Frequent emotional distress​ (Anger, Anxiety​, Depression)

• Hostility​

• Epinephrine and norepinephrine

Factors Affecting Heart Disease - Social Environmental Stress

• May heighten risk of coronaryheart disease​

• Factors such as overtime work,assembly-line labor, exposureto conflicting demands​

• Findings in Sweden that among women, marital stress triples the risk of recurrent cardiac events

John Henryism

psychological concept that describes a coping style characterized by persistent hard work, determination, and a belief in one's ability to overcome adversity. 

The term was coined by epidemiologist Sherman James in the 1980s. James observed that African Americans were more likely to experience chronic stress and health problems, such as hypertension, than other racial groups. He hypothesized that John Henryism might be a contributing factor.​

Asthma

• Respiratory disorder in whichthe bronchi constrict andbecome inflamed, and largeamounts of mucus aresecreted​

• Causes attacks of wheezing,coughing, and struggling tobreathe in enough air​

• Affects more than 27 millionpeople in the United Statesand is on the rise

Asthma - Treatment

• Reducing exposure toallergens​

• Desensitization therapy(allergy shots)​

• Use of inhalers​

• Drugs such as bronchodilators and anti-inflammatories​

• Breathing and relaxation exercises

Asthma - Causal Factors

• Allergic reactions​

• Exposure toenvironmentalpollutants​

• Genetic andimmunological factors

Asthma - triggers

• Exposure to allergens​

• Cold, dry air and hot,humid air​

• Emotional responses

Asthma - Psychological Factors

• Stress​

• Anxiety​

• Depression

Cancer

• Development of aberrant, or mutant, cells that form growths(tumors) that spread to healthy tissue​

• Claims more than half a million lives in the United States annually​

• One in two chance of developing for men​

• One in three chance of developing for women​

• Declining death rates​

Stress and Cancer

• Inconclusive links between stress and cancer​

• Possible links because of: ​

• Effects of exposure to stress on immune system​

• Possible increased susceptibility to cancer due to weakened or compromised immune system

• Patients with cancer​ Often benefit from psychological counseling and group support programs to cope with the emotional consequences of cancer

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS)

• Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) ​ - Attacks the immune system, leaving it helpless to fend off diseases it normally would hold in check​

• AIDS ​- Disease caused by HIV​

• Psychological problems ​Can develop as people adjust to living with AIDS

Adjustment of Peoplewith H I V and AIDS

• Anxiety and depression ​

• Common psychologicalproblems​

• Reduction of both through coping skills training and cognitive behavioral therapy ​

• Help for depression through antidepressant medication

Psychological Interventions to Reduce Risky Behaviors​

• Raise awareness about the risky behaviors​

• Help people develop more adaptive behaviors​