Health Psychology Chapter 1

What is Health Psychology?

• Health psychology is an exciting and relatively new field that addresses important questions about health and wellbeing.
• It is devoted to understanding psychological influences on how people stay healthy, why they become ill, and how they respond when they do get ill.

Definition of Health Psychology

• Health psychologists study psychological influences on health and develop interventions to help people stay well or recover from illness.
• The definition of health is an essential aspect of health psychology, which is defined as "a complete state of physical, mental, and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity" by the World Health Organization (1948).

Health and Wellness

• Health is recognized as an achievement involving balance among physical, mental, and social well-being.
• The term "wellness" refers to this optimum state of health.

Health Psychologists

• Health psychologists focus on health promotion and maintenance, including issues such as:
  • How to get children to develop good health habits
  • How to promote regular exercise
  • How to design a media campaign to get people to improve their diets
• They study the psychological aspects of the prevention and treatment of illness.
• Health psychologists also work with people who are already ill to help them follow their treatment regimen.

Etiology and Correlates of Health

• Etiology refers to the origins or causes of illness.
• Health psychologists study the behavioral and social factors that contribute to health, illness, and dysfunction, such as:
  • Alcohol consumption
  • Smoking
  • Exercise
  • The wearing of seat belts
  • Ways of coping with stress

Health Care System and Policy

• Health psychologists analyze and attempt to improve the health care system and the formulation of health policy.
• They study the impact of health institutions and health professionals on people's behavior to develop recommendations for improving health care.

Why Did Health Psychology Develop?

• Health psychology developed because psychological and social factors were recognized as important contributors to health and wellbeing.
• The field aims to address puzzles and questions about health, such as why people continue to engage in unhealthy behaviors despite knowing the risks.

Ischemia

• Ischemia is a condition characterized by a lack of blood flow and oxygen to the heart muscle.
• Approximately 3-4 million Americans experience silent ischemic episodes without knowing it, which can lead to a heart attack with no prior warning.

Congestive Heart Failure (CHF)

• CHF occurs when the heart's delivery of oxygen-rich blood is inadequate to meet the body's needs.

Blood Pressure

• Blood pressure is the force that blood exerts against the blood vessel walls.
• Blood pressure is highest during systole and lowest during diastole.
• Blood pressure is measured as a combination of systolic and diastolic pressures.
• Factors that influence blood pressure include the number of red blood cells, amount of plasma, and the structure of the arterial walls.
• Damaged, clogged, or rigid arterial walls can lead to higher blood pressure.

Blood Cells

• Blood cells are manufactured in the bone marrow in the hollow cavities of bones.
• There are five types of blood-forming cells in the bone marrow:
  • Myeloblasts and monoblasts (produce white blood cells)
  • Lymphoblasts (produce lymphocytes)
  • Erythroblasts (produce red blood cells)
  • Megakaryocytes (produce platelets)
• Each type of blood cell has a unique function.

White Blood Cells

• White blood cells play a crucial role in healing by absorbing and removing foreign substances from the body.
• They contain granules that secrete digestive enzymes, which help to engulf and act on bacteria.

Red Blood Cells

• Red blood cells are essential for carrying oxygen and carbon dioxide throughout the body due to the presence of hemoglobin.

Platelets

• Platelets clump together to block small holes that develop in blood vessels.
• They also play a vital role in blood clotting.

Clotting Disorders

• Clots (or thromboses) can sometimes develop in the blood vessels.

The Blood

• An adult's body contains approximately 5 liters of blood, consisting of plasma and cells.
• Plasma makes up around 55% of the blood volume, with the remaining 45% composed of cells.
• Blood plays a crucial role in transporting oxygen and nutrients, as well as removing carbon dioxide and waste materials.
• It also helps to regulate skin temperature.