Question

What is the most effective treatment for Type A persons who have already suffered a heart attack?

What was the primary source of the methylmercury poisoning that was responsible for many medical problems in the people of Minamata, Japan?

Answer 1

• Type A personality people tend to be very competitive and self-critical. They strive toward goals without feeling a sense of joy in their accomplishments.Interrelated with this is the presence of a high work involvement. These individuals are easily ‘wound up’ and tend to overreact. They also tend to have high blood pressure (hypertension) leading to heart attacks.

• Type A behavior pattern is characterized by underlying hostility as well their way of coping with stress, which is a major factor leading to coronary heart disease.

• Since stress is considered a major factor in causing heart attacks therefore it is important to treat stress first.Treating psychological distress seems to improve patients' physical outcomes.

• A psychologist can provide effective treatment to these people in coping with after effects of a heart attack by educating patients on healthy behaviors when they are most open to advice — immediately after they are hospitalized,establishing effective communication between the patient and family members and conducting follow-up assessments to determine how well the patient and family are coping with recovery.

• Psychologists can make use of Cognitive behavourial therapy and other stress management techniques. CBT will help the patients in reducing anxiety experienced after heart attack. It also useful in teaching anger management and stress management.

• Depression is also an after effect of heart attack. This can also be treated using psychological therapies. Type A people are more vulnerable to depression therefore behaviourial techniques are needed to treat them.

• The primary source of the methylmercury poisioning was environmental pollution. It basically happened in those individuals who ingested fish and shellfish contaminated by methylmercury discharged in waste water from a chemical plant.The symptom of patients were serious, and extensive lesions of the brain were found.