Chronic Illness & Health Psychology
This module continues the concepts from Module Six and applies them to specific chronic illnesses such as Coronary Heart Disease (CHD), Hypertension, Stroke, Diabetes (Type I and Type II), AIDS, Cancer, and Arthritis. Physical and psychosocial issues related to these diseases are examined.
Choose one of the chronic illness above and explain how personality, emotions, stress, coping styles, and/or lifestyle factors play a part in the development and management of the specific illness that you have selected. Please feel free to describe any personal experiences that you may have had with this topic.
DISCUSSION 2 SHOULD BE 2 PARAGRAPH)
Given the current pressure to reform US health care and contain its costs, how might health psychologists and/or research in the field of health psychology be helpful during the development of future policy? Also, how could/will you use the information you learned in this course to shape your own health practices?Chronic Illness & Health Psychology Chronic Illness & Health Psychology
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Choose one of the chronic illnesses and explain how personality emotions stress coping styles and/or lifestyle factors play a part in the development and management of the specific illness that you have selected,
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Please feel free to describe any personal experiences that you may have had with this topic,
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Given the current pressure to reform US health care and contain its costs, how might health psychologists and/or research in the field of health psychology be helpful during the development of future policy?,
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How could/will you use the information you learned in this course to shape your own health practices?
Discussion 1 (2 Paragraphs)
For this discussion, I chose Coronary Heart Disease (CHD). Personality and emotional factors play a significant role in both the development and management of CHD. Individuals with high levels of hostility, impatience, or chronic stress—often associated with a “Type A” personality—tend to have higher risks of hypertension, inflammation, and arterial damage, which can contribute to CHD. Emotional states such as depression and anxiety can worsen the prognosis by influencing behaviors like poor diet, smoking, and reduced physical activity. Stress, when persistent, raises cortisol levels, constricts blood vessels, and increases blood pressure, all of which strain the cardiovascular system over time.
Managing CHD requires not only medical treatment but also attention to psychological and lifestyle factors. Coping styles such as problem-solving, social support seeking, and relaxation techniques have been shown to improve adherence to medication and encourage healthier behaviors. Lifestyle changes like regular exercise, balanced nutrition, and mindfulness can significantly reduce recurrence risks. Personally, I have seen how stress management and emotional awareness can transform someone’s recovery—my family member with CHD improved their condition after learning to manage stress and maintain emotional balance through therapy and routine physical activity. Chronic Illness & Health Psychology
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