Improving Cardiovascular Function with Lifestyle Changes Discussion

Despite all of the research that points to the risks associated with unhealthy lifestyles, many individuals find it difficult to change their ways. Even more puzzling is the number of individuals who pick up these habits despite knowing the health risks associated with them. As a health psychology professional, how might you influence the adoption of healthy lifestyle changes to improve cardiovascular function? For example, you might suggest that an individual with poor eating habits take a nutrition class. Or you might recommend anger management strategies to a population of individuals who are prone to anger. Consider how lifestyle changes might play a role in improving cardiovascular function.

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For this Discussion, review this week’s Learning Resources. Select a lifestyle change that might improve cardiovascular function. Then, search the Walden Library for articles that support that change. Finally, consider five tips you might suggest to a population to support them in adhering to the lifestyle change you selected.

With these thoughts in mind:

Post by Day 4 a brief description of one lifestyle change, and explain how it might improve cardiovascular function. Then, explain the research findings from at least one article you selected that supports the lifestyle change you selected. Finally, describe five tips you might suggest to a population to support them in adhering to that lifestyle change. Be specific.

Be sure to support your posts and responses with specific references to the Learning Resources.

READINGS

Contrada, R. J. (2011). The handbook of stress science: Biology, psychology, and health. New York, NY: Springer Publishing Company, LLC.
- Chapter 28, “Stress and the Heart: Psychosocial Stress and Coronary Heart Disease” (pp. 385–398)
- Chapter 29, “Stress and Cardiometabolic Syndrome” (pp. 399–410)
- Chapter 37, “Cardiovascular Measures in Stress Research: Methodological, Analytic, and Inferential Issues” (pp. 515–530)
Denollet, J., Gidron, Y., Vrints, C. J., & Conraads, V. M. (2010). Anger, suppressed anger, and risk of adverse events in patients with coronary artery disease. The American Journal of Cardiology, 105(11), 1555–1560.
Retrieved from the Walden Library databases.
Poole, L., Dickens, C., & Steptoe, A. (2010). The puzzle of depression and acute coronary syndrome: Reviewing the role of acute inflammation. Journal of Psychosomatic Research, 71(2), 61–68.
Retrieved from the Walden Library databases.
Prochaska, J. O., DiClemente, C. C., & Norcross, J. C. (1992). In search of how people change: Applications to addictive behaviors. American Psychologist, 47(9), 1102–1114.
Retrieved from the Walden Library databases.
Waltman, M. A., Russell, D. C., Coyle, C. T., Enright, R. D., Holter, A. C., & Swoboda, C. M. (2009). The effects of a forgiveness intervention on patients with coronary artery disease. Psychology & Health, 24(1), 11–27.
Retrieved from the Walden Library databases.
American Heart Association. (n. d.). Inflammation and heart disease. Retrieved from http://www.heart.org/HEARTORG/Conditions/Inflammation-and-Heart-Disease_UCM_432150_Article.jsp
Center for Disease Control and Prevention. (2012). Heart disease. Retrieved from http://www.cdc.gov/heartdisease/
De Oliveira, C., Watt, R., & Hamer, M. (2010). Toothbrushing, inflammation, and risk of cardiovascular disease: Results from Scottish Health Survey. British Medical Journal, 340. Retrieved from http://www.bmj.com/content/340/bmj.c2451.full
Copyright 2010 by the British Medical Journal. Used by permission of BMJ PUBLISHING GROUP LTD. via the Copyright Clearance Center.
Document: Brochure Template (Word document)
Note: You will use this template to complete this week’s Assignment.

Optional Resources

Hamzah, M. O., & Turki, K. M. (2011). Serum Levels of Interleukin-1 Alpha and Interleukin-6 in Acute Coronary Syndrome Patients. Iraqi Journal of Medical Sciences, 9(3), 281–284.
Retrieved from the Walden Library databases.
Krantz, D. S., Olson, M. B., Francis, J. L., Phankao, C., Merz, C. N. B., Sopko, G., … Matthews, K. A. (2006). Anger, hostility, and cardiac symptoms in women with suspected coronary artery disease: The women’s ischemia syndrome evaluation (WISE) study. Journal of Women’s Health, 15(10), 1214–1223.
Retrieved from the Walden Library databases.
Velicer, W. F, Prochaska, J. O., Fava, J. L., Norman, G. J., & Redding, C. A. (1998). Smoking cessation and stress management: Applications of the Transtheoretical Model of behavior change. Homeostasis, 38, 216–233. Retrieved from http://www.uri.edu/research/cprc/TTM/detailedoverview.htm
World Health Organization. (2012). Cardiovascular disease: Global atlas on cardiovascular disease prevention and control. Retrieved from http://www.who.int/cardiovascular_diseases/en/