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Cardiovascular Disease and Stress: from Aetiology to Intervention

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Book cover Stress

Part of the book series: Studies in Biology, Economy and Society ((SBES))

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Abstract

Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death in the industrialized world. In 1985, it accounted for 47.6 per cent of deaths among men and 54.1 per cent of deaths among women (Lopez, 1990). Coronary or ischaemic heart disease is the main culprit, although cerebrovascular stroke and deaths related to high blood pressure (hypertension) are also major contributors. Recently, there have been welcome trends towards reduced cardiovascular mortality in the USA, the countries of Western Europe and in Japan. However, these are offset by increases in death rates in Eastern Europe, and the emergence of cardiovascular disease as an important problem in the developing world (Lopez, 1993). Coronary heart disease makes a substantial contribution to premature as well as to overall mortality, with the United Kingdom being worse off than its neighbours. Recent figures show an annual rate of cardiovascular mortality in men aged 35–64 of more than 350 per 100,000 in England and Scotland, compared with less than 250 per 100,000 in France, Spain and Italy (WHO, 1989). The costs of cardiovascular disease to the economy are immense. Teeling-Smith (1988) has computed that, in 1985, hospital costs related to cardiovascular disease totalled £2.3 billion, with a further £350 million spent on medicines in the UK alone.

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Authors
  1. Andrew Steptoe
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Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Edith Cowan University, Perth, Australia

    Alan H. Bittles (Foundation Professor of Human Biology) (Foundation Professor of Human Biology)

  2. Griffith University, Brisbane, Australia

    Peter A. Parsons (Professor, Faculty of Science and Technology) (Professor, Faculty of Science and Technology)

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© 1996 The Galton Institute

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Steptoe, A. (1996). Cardiovascular Disease and Stress: from Aetiology to Intervention. In: Bittles, A.H., Parsons, P.A. (eds) Stress. Studies in Biology, Economy and Society. Palgrave Macmillan, London. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-349-14163-0_10

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