Summary of 2011 guidelines from AHA for CVD prevention in women

Numerous studies have demonstrated that there exists a strong and consistent association of several psychosocial factors and CHD. More consistent and reproducible outcome studies confirm that psychosocial risk factors such as depression, chronic anxiety, personality type D, anger, hostility and low socioeconomic status, represent potent CHD risk factors. The psychosocial risk factors also adversely affect the prognosis after MI, CABG, even angioplasty with drug eluting stents. The results of behavioral and psychopharmacological interventions are mixed, probably because of use of varying measures and inconsistent methods and warrants further studies. A few small studies suggest that “yoga” may be useful for relief of mental stress as well as regression of coronary arteriosclerosis. In view of large amount of published data it is suggested that psychosocial factors should also be given adequate attention like other traditional and conventional risk factors for CHD n