Heart diseases risk factors - Research Paper Example

Introduction Heart diseases are conventionally associated with many diseases that occur in many patients. Some of these diseases are commonly identifies as depression, anxiety and stress disorders. In this regard, studies indicate that most unhealthy people are so reluctant living a healthy lifestyle oblivious of the risk factors associated with heart disease. According to (Paula, Ken, & Laura, 2011) heart disease is a collection of conditions that affect structure and hear functions. These heart conditions include coronary artery disease, heart attack, congenital, and rheumatic disease. Heart diseases have been documented as the leading killer disease in U.S with about 700,000 deaths reporting illustrating a 29% of deaths. Heart diseases are caused by physiological risk factors such as stress, depression, and anxiety among others. Views held by (Rebecca & Tish Davidson, 2011) and (Mathew M. Burg, 1992) define stress as an organism’s response to external pressure and situation. Depression on the other hand is characterized by ‘depressed mood and reduced responsiveness to pleasurable stimuli and manifested through behavioral and cognitive changes’ (Grippo & Johnson, 2002) and (Paula, Ken, & Laura, 2011). Additionally, anxiety is characterized by ‘fear, apprehension, and discomfort towards various stimuli with no clear threat.’ (American Psychiatric Association, 1994), similar views held by (Rebecca & Teressa, 2011) This paper examines the relationship between three physiological risk factors, i.e. stress, depression, and anxiety, and their effects on heart disease. The guiding research question for this particular study is: Why do unhealthy people are so reluctant to live healthy lifestyle yet they know the risk factors of heart disease. In order to clearly understand this phenomenon, the study uses physiological problems as a subtopic focusing on stress, depression, and anxiety. Stress Not all forms of stress is harmful, some amount of stress has been shown to be beneficial as it helps to relieve monotony, directs people towards accomplishing desirable goals and an important component of many activities. (Mathew M. Burg, 1992) This type of stress is often called ‘eustress’ as opposed to ‘distress.’ In most a times, eustress is associated with joy and a general feeling of happiness, while distress is associated with fatigue, anxiety and a feeling of discomfort. Whatever the type of stress, an individual responds through a varied of mental, behavioral, and physical response mechanisms. (Rebecca & Tish Davidson, 2011) Physiological stress mechanisms Several scientific connotations describe stress response mechanism as a ‘fight or flight response.’ According to (Mathew M. Burg, 1992) these response mechanisms are a set o physiological changes that occur to prepare the body to counteract these requirements by the action of sympathetic nervous system and pituitary glands to release hormone adrenaline and cortisols which in turn effect response on the heart, muscles, and a number of body parts to achieve the desired response. Stress and Heart Diseases Whether meeting physical or mental demands of humans, the physiological response is always the same. The increased heart rate and high blood pressure initiates increased blood flow which has an effect in increasing the tension of coronary arteries (Mathew M. Burg, 1992) which may damage arteriole lining. In an attempt to repair the injured walls, the platelets attach to the walls of the injured unfortunately leading to blockage of the walls. The result is a thickened arteriole wall which in turn attracts deposition of other substances, notably, low density cholesterol (which is produced as a behavioral response to stress). Other studies have also suggested that this process hastens atherosclerosis of coronary arteries. In this manner therefore, (Mathew M. Burg, 1992) and (Paula, Ken, & Laura, 2011) concludes that the process of stress response posits a great chance to the formation of atherosclerotic disease of the heart. Depression Depression is mainly manifested in the change of mood. Depression is a physiological disorder that bears effects on one’s physical and mental health. Other scientists have suggested that depression is a risk factor for coronary heart disease. Studies by (Pennnix, et al., 2001) and similar studies by (Barefoot & Schroll, 1996) suggest that this disorder is independent of conventional risk factors such as hypertension, increased body weight, and high cholesterol accumulation. Other studies have also associated depression as a predisposing factor to atherosclerosis, myocardial infarction, changes of sudden heart failure and in extreme cases leads to death. This paper is in consistent with other similar research studies that have also tried to establish the relationship between depression and heart disease, of significance is an online article carried in 2001 by National Institute of Mental Health that present data and figures linking depression and coronary artery disease, an article titles; ‘Depression can break your Heart.’ Depression and Heart disease (Grippo & Johnson, 2002), in their several studies concludes that strong evidence exists to assert a relationship between stress and heart disease. These studies further allude that depression is of relative significance as a risk factor for heart disease both in healthy population and cardiac individuals. Subsequently, other studies suggest that depression has a significant effect in individuals who suffer recurrent cardiac disease. In other analysis, (Anda, Williamson, Macera, Eakar, Glassman, & Marks, 1993) suggest that depression symptoms occurred at much higher level leading to heart disease in victims who had no history of cardiac disease irrespective of age, marital status, education, level of physical exercises, and smoking. It is also important to note at this point that depression and heart disease is not unidirectional, in most instances, depression can lead to heart diseases and cardiovascular disease can lead to depression. (Paula Anne & Teresa, 2011) The causative mechanisms Suggestive studies have indicated a strong relationship to conclude that depression results to increased blood clotting in the heart, which in effect can result to coronary artery or due to heart blockage and subsequent heart failure. Depression also affects heart rate variability. From earlier discussions, it was evident that stress can either lower or speed up the rate of heart beat, subsequently, studies also suggests that when one a person is depressed there is also increased chances of reduced variability of the heart. Moreover, depression leads to production of cortisols which in turn may result to production of inflammatory markers which has an incremental effect to the inflammatory process. It is also significant to note at this level that patients who have a history of depression prior to development of heart disease have high chances of poor recovery and most often experience a lot of pain and less likely to recover their normal lifestyle. (Paula Anne & Teresa, 2011) Depression exists with other psychological risk factors and symptoms including smoking, high blood pressure, obesity, diabetes, and uncontrolled alcohol use which in turn have a bearing effect to exposure to development of heart disease. Anxiety Largely, anxiety is related to the ‘flight or fight’ mechanism of stress response. Perhaps to separate the two, anxiety is more of a psychological response lasting somewhat longer after exposure to the danger causing situation has been eliminated. In cases of severe anxiety, patients exhibit physical symptoms that would warrant medical attention. (Rebecca & Teressa, 2011) The hormone adrenaline is the linked as the primary causative of anxiety. They function to prepare individuals to deal with frightening emergencies as they are released to every part of the body, this response though leads to anxiety when it persists in absence of danger situation. Development of acute anxiety is characterized by physical symptoms including increased beating of the heart, breathlessness, rapid breathing, chest pains, nausea and loosening of urinary bladder. These physical symptoms of anxiety are manifestations of heart attack- chest pain and rapid breath, a reflection of cardiac problems. (Rebecca & Teressa, 2011) Other studies suggest that increased heart beat and rapid breathing have a congestive effect on the heart as the heart tries to beat faster in an effort to supply increased oxygen demand by actively respiring tissues to counteract the nonexistent emergency. With time the heart muscles become weak and the blood vessels of the heart also lose their tension, the resultant effect is developing coronary problems or inability of the heart muscles to provide enough pumping mechanism to meet the normal body physiological requirements. Conclusion Body’s physical, behavioral, and mental mechanisms that result to stress, depression, and anxiety are generally a beneficial normal physiological response of mechanisms of dealing with different situations. This research revealed that three physiological response mechanisms are multi-dimensional where one has an effect to leading or causing the other response and the other response being caused by it. A careful study of these responses revealed an underlying reality that many unhealthy persons are so reluctant to live healthy lifestyle though they are aware of these risks factors and are exposed to them daily; this paper therefore is in consistent with other research studies that have exposed significant mechanisms on how anxiety, depression and stress result to heart problems. This research study was limited only to secondary sources of information and the research documentaries have not been verified through primary sources to ascertain the underlying findings. Subsequently, prospective, and carefully examined studies for stress, depression, and anxiety are lacking. These findings were exclusive on documented studies. Further, careful, and structured studies should be undertaken on these physiological conditions. References American Psychiatric Association. (1994). Diagnostic and Statitistical Manual of Mental disorders, 4th ed. Washington, DC: American Psychiatric Association. Anda, R., Williamson, D., Macera, C., Eakar, E., Glassman, A., & Marks, J. (1993). Depressed affect, hopelessness, and risk of ischemic heart disease in a cohort of U.S adults. Epidemiology 4 , 285-294. Barefoot, J., & Schroll, M. (1996). Symptoms of Depression, acute myocardial infection and total mortality in a community sample. Circulation 93 , 1976-1980. Grippo, A., & Johnson, A. (2002). Biological mechanisms in the relationship between depression. Neuroscience and Biobehavioral Reviews 26 , 941–962. Mathew M. Burg. (1992). Stress, Behavior and Heart Disease. In L. Z. Barry, M. Moser, & S. C. Lawrence, Yale University School of Medicine: Heart Book (pp. 94-104). New York: William Morrow and Company, Inc. Paula Anne, F. M., & Teresa, G. (2011). Depressive Disorders. (L. J. Fundukian, Ed.) Retrieved from The Gale Encyclopedia of Medicine : http://find.galegroup.com Paula, F.-M., Ken, R., & Laura, J. C. (2011). Heart Disease. Gale Health Collection, Online Edition . Pennnix, B., Beekam, A., Honing, A., Deeg, D., Schoevers, R., Van Eijik, J., et al. (2001). Depression and Cardiac Mortality: Results from Community-based Longitudinal Study. Arch Gen Psychiatry 58 , 221-227. Rebecca, J. F., & Tish Davidson, A. (2011). Stress. Retrieved March 31, 2012, from Gale Health Collection: http://find.galegroup.com Rebecca, J., & Teressa, G. (2011). Anxiety. (J. F. Laurie, Ed.) Retrieved March 31, 2012, from The Gale Encyclopedia of Medicine: http://find.galegroup.com Jot Notes Heart disease cases have been on the rise among the unhealthy people with 700, 000 deaths reported annually in the U.S representing a 29% proportion of deaths. (Paula, Ken, & Laura, 2011) defined heart disease as conditions that affect structure and function of heart. Some of these conditions include stress, anxiety and depression. Stress Stress represents interactions between persons and their environment. These responses are commonly referred to as ‘a fight or flight’ response which trigger physiological changes on the circulatory system. Stress is associated with risk factors that include social, interpersonal, and social factors. (Rebecca & Tish Davidson, 2011)Moreover, people who are socially disadvantaged, children, and elderly have usually a high chance of being stressed. As the body tries to adjust to these changes blood flow to the heart is increased; as a result heart beat rate and pressure of heart increases causing tension on heart’s arteriole lining. These physiological changes damage the arteriole lining; the platelets are released as the body reacts to repair the damaged arteriole lining and attach to the arteriole wall blocking it. The body’s behavioral response to stress produces low density cholesterol which further becomes deposited on the arteriole wall. To sum up, increased blood flow to the heart, increased heart beat rate and increased pressure, thickening of arteriole wall, blockage of arteriole wall by platelets and deposition of low density cholesterol leads to atherosclerotic disease of the heart. Depression Depression is a physiological disorder involving mood change affecting one’s physical and mental health. (Paula Anne & Teresa, 2011) Depression is a risk factor for coronary heart disease. (Paula, Ken, & Laura, 2011) (Paula, Ken, & Laura, 2011) argue that depression can lead to increased blood clotting of the heart, blocking coronary artery and subsequent leading to heart failure. Depression also lowers heart rate. When heart rate variability is lowered, the heart beat rate is also lowered which in turn exerts undue pressure on the heart as it is unable to meet demands required normal body functioning. Depression has also been associated with influencing cortisols production; a precursor for increasing the inflammatory process leading to production of inflammatory markers. Subsequently, depression associated symptoms including smoking, uncontrolled diet, diabetic; alcoholic and high blood pressure persons are at a greater risk of developing heart diseases. (Paula Anne & Teresa, 2011) Anxiety (Rebecca & Teressa, 2011), perceives anxiety as a ‘multisystem response to perceived threat or danger.’ Anxiety is often confused with fear, while fear refers to a conscious response of a person to a direct recognizable object or situation; anxiety on the other end is usually non-directional, vague and no clear object of interest often lasting somewhat longer even after the situation of fear has been eliminated. Anxiety is an action of autonomic nervous system which is controlled by hypothalamus located in the brain. The hypothalamus is associated with release of hormone adrenaline which functions to prepare individuals to deal with emergencies either to ‘fight or flee.’ The hormone adrenaline is therefore usually released to counteract stress, if there is no stress causing situations, then the body is forced to absorb all hormones that had been released through a series of biochemical changes which may produce feelings of anxiousness and anxiety related symptoms; repeated actions of this process may in effect result in permanent brain changes and also put stress on vital organs of the body like the heart leading to development of coronary heart disease. (Rebecca & Teressa, 2011) As the heart becomes increasingly overworked to supply the extra oxygen to counteract the ‘emergency situation’ which inturn weakens the muscles of the heart, weakened coronary arteries leading to development of heart disease. References Paula Anne, F. M., & Teresa, G. (2011). Depressive Disorders. (L. J. Fundukian, Ed.) Retrieved from The Gale Encyclopedia of Medicine : http://find.galegroup.com Paula, F.-M., Ken, R., & Laura, J. C. (2011). Heart Disease. Gale Health Collection, Online Edition . Rebecca, J. F., & Tish Davidson, A. (2011). Stress. Retrieved March 31, 2012, from Gale Health Collection: http://find.galegroup.com Rebecca, J., & Teressa, G. (2011). Anxiety. (J. F. Laurie, Ed.) Retrieved March 31, 2012, from The Gale Encyclopedia of Medicine: http://find.galegroup.com Read More