Effects of Stress on Physical Health - Coronary Heart Disease

CISCE: Class 12

Meaning

Coronary heart disease (CHD) is a condition in which the coronary arteries are blocked, so the heart muscle does not receive enough blood.
It is a leading cause of death and a major health problem in middle age.
Many CHD deaths occur between 35–64 years, and men are more affected than women.

CISCE: Class 12

Coronary arteries normally supply oxygen-rich blood to the heart.
Fatty deposits and other factors can narrow these arteries.
A blood clot (thrombus) can form inside a narrowed artery.
When the artery is blocked, the heart muscle is damaged, leading to a heart attack or death.

CISCE: Class 12

Blood clotting (thrombosis) occurs faster during emotional stress.
There is a positive relationship between emotional stress and blood clotting.
Emotions such as worry, anxiety, irritation, and excitement can increase heart palpitations.
These emotional states disturb blood flow, increase clotting and can block heart arteries.

CISCE: Class 12

Macht studied blood bank donors to see how emotion affects blood coagulation time.
Calm donors showed longer coagulation time (slower clotting).
Apprehensive, frightened and nervous donors showed shorter coagulation time (faster clotting).
This supports the idea that emotional arousal speeds up clotting and raises CHD risk.

CISCE: Class 12

Psychological factors significantly interact with CHD development.
Autopsies of injured U.S. soldiers in Korea (average age about 22) showed coronary disease in a high percentage of hearts.
This suggests that severe war-related stress can produce early coronary changes even in young adults.

CISCE: Class 12

Kisker reported that about one in four deaths among physicians aged 45–65 in the U.S.A. was due to CHD.
This indicates that high professional stress and responsibility may increase CHD risk.
Even medically knowledgeable people are vulnerable if they live under constant stress.

CISCE: Class 12

Friedman and Rosenman (1959) identified the Type A behaviour pattern linked with CHD.
Type A individuals live under continuous pressure and stress.
They have little leisure or relaxation and work most of the time.
They are often time-urgent, impatient and worried, making them more prone to CHD than more relaxed people.

CISCE: Class 12

CHD is caused by blocked coronary arteries, reducing blood supply to the heart.
Emotional stress speeds up blood clotting and contributes to CHD.
Worry, anxiety, irritation, and excitement can increase heart palpitations and may obstruct the heart's arteries.
Macht’s study shows calm people have slower clotting, while nervous people have faster clotting.
Autopsy studies on young soldiers show early coronary disease linked to severe stress.
Kisker’s report shows high CHD deaths among physicians, indicating occupational stress.
Type A behaviour pattern (continuous pressure, little relaxation) is associated with higher CHD risk.