Greek researchers find a psychological component in heart disease

Friday, January 31, 2014 by: Yanjun
Tags: heart disease, stress reduction, psychological intervention

(NaturalNews) Psychological intervention has been found to reduce chances of heart attacks among heart disease patients. The psychological interventions include listening to music, doing relaxation exercises, talking to the patients about what is worrying them, patients being talked to through their surgical procedures and praying with them. It should be noted that heart disease is not only physical but also has a psychological component.

Psychological intervention and reassurance

During the Acute Cardiac Care Congress, Dr. Zoi Aggelopoulou said that nurses at their coronary care unit had made an observation. Patients had rare heart attacks, visited the hospital rarely or didn't die when the nurses played music to them, explained to them the procedure of their treatment or prayed with them. She concluded that these psychological interventions helped. They reduce the cardiovascular events of the patients, and it had a positive impact on them.

Most patients usually want to know what will happen to them after they leave the hospital. What to do and what not to do, and whether they will change their lifestyle or not. Telling them what may happen and assuring them that all is well reduces the chance of them having another heart attack. Giving them this information also reduces their chances of dying. Patients also feel better when they get involved in deciding their treatment.

Negative psychological factors

The study also showed that some psychological factors may increase the rate of heart attacks among patients. These factors were mostly negative. They included stress, depression, isolation from other people, low economic status, and marital issues among others.

Those who care for the patients should ensure that the patients do not go through these negative psychological factors. This will ensure a prolonged life span for the patients and also fewer heart attacks, reducing the visits to the doctor.

Patience pays

However, the study indicates that the benefits are not that significant for the first two years. The patients do not experience the benefits immediately. They have to wait for at least two years before they start to experience them. According to the study, the patients found a huge benefit from psychological intervention after two years. The nurses also observed fewer visits after two years from the patients who underwent psychological intervention.

Psychological components play a big role to heart disease patients. Studies have shown that heart attacks are caused by psychological factors such as stress, loneliness, and depression. Studies also indicate that positive psychological factors reduce heart attacks and death caused by heart attacks by about 55 percent.

Therefore, nurses and those who care for patients can greatly help them by introducing new things such as relaxing music, doing relaxing exercises, and praying with them in addition to their psychological therapies and medication. They should also avoid stress, depression, and other negative factors. However, both the patient and their care giver should be patient. It takes a minimum for two years for them to experience the results of psychological intervention.

Sources for this article include:

http://www.bignewsnetwork.com

http://www.neuropsychotherapist.com

http://www.everydayhealth.com

About the author:
Sofiya has written articles on most health-related topics, including traditional medicine, alternative and naturopathic and natural treatments,health insurance, wellness, medical marijuana, diets and fitness.