This case study of George, age 48, presents a classic Type A personality. George operates under a consistently high level of emotional and physical stress. While some of this stress is the result of his work, part of it is also self-imposed and is the product of a personality type who often refuses to seek help unless in a crisis. George works two demanding high-stress jobs. One is as a machinist with a construction company, which is very physically stressful. The other is as a cab driver, which can place physical stress on the patient due to long hours of driving. Although only middle-aged, George has suffered three heart attacks. There is empirical evidence to suggest that there is an association between personality and susceptibility to suffering cardiac conditions: “The hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis and the stress hormone cortisol provide key links between emotions and the heart. The HPA axis controls various body functions by releasing hormones into the bloodstream” (“Type D Personality,” 2018, par.7). Genetics, smoking and poor lifestyle decisions can likewise increase a patient’s susceptibility to heart attacks. Although it is not stated, working long hours and shift work in general often can reduce the likelihood a patient has time to exercise and eat healthy meals. Thus irregular work and sleeping patterns are likewise associated with increased cardiovascular risk (Mosendane, Mosendane, & Raal, 2008). George’s patriarchal cultural attitudes about women working and the need to be a breadwinner clearly intensify his...
George is very resistant to the idea of his wife working and shouldering some of the financial burden of the family.References
Mosendane, T., Mosendane, T., & Raal, F. J. (2008). Shift work and its effects on the cardiovascular system. Cardiovascular Journal of Africa, 19(4), 210–215. Retrieved from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3971766/
Reduce your stress to protect your heart. (2018). Harvard Medical School. Retrieved from: https://www.health.harvard.edu/healthbeat/reduce-your-stress-to-protect-your-heart
Rees, K., Bennett, P., West, R., Smith, G. D., & Ebrahim, S. (2004). Psychological interventions for coronary heart disease. The Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, (2), CD002902. Retrieved from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4170898/
The transtheoretical model. (2018). Prochange. Retrieved from: https://www.prochange.com/transtheoretical-model-of-behavior-change
Type D personality and cardiovascular risk. (2014). Harvard Medical School. Retrieved from: https://www.health.harvard.edu/newsletter_article/Type_D_personality_and_cardiovascu lar_risk
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