Heart Disease and StressMiller and Blackwell state: "Although people have long believed that certain thoughts and feelings are toxic to their health, it is only in the last 30 years since convincing evidence has been accumulated to support this view. …specific cognitive and emotional processes contribute to the development and progression of medical illnesses” (Miller & Blackwell, 2006, p. 269). Heart disease is one of the leading causes of death in the United States. Through numerous experiments, research has shown that stress increases health problems directly linked to heart disease. Stress is a part of everyday life, but individuals perceive and deal with it differently. StressStress is defined as “the process by which we perceive and respond to certain events, called stressors, that we appraise as threatening or difficult” (Myers, 2013). , p. 487). When stressors arise in people's lives, the response can be positive, posing a challenge and making people more focused. If the stressor is seen as a threat or negative, the person may become more distracted and stressed. From hurricanes and earthquakes to driving on the street and being isolated, stressors can be presented in different ways and fall into one of three categories. The three main categories are disasters, significant life changes, and daily hassles, but all play a vital role (Myers, 2013).InflammationWhen the body processes stress, it is both a physiological process and psychological. External sources activate the immune response of inflammation which, if persisted, studies show, develops symptoms of depression and progresses to heart disease. Walter Cannon (1929) observed the stress hormones epinephrine and norepinephrine originating from the adrenal glands in the middle of the article...... covered personality traits as well as Type A and Type B reactions to stress, the scientific community can move closer to reducing chronic heart disease in patients affected by stressors.ReferencesAlfred B. Heilburn, J. and Friedberg, EB (1988). Type A personality, self-control and vulnerability to stress. Journal of Personality Assessment, 420-424.Miller, G.E. and Blackwell, E. (2006). Raise the temperature. Current Directions in Psychological Science, 269-272.Myers, D.G. (2013). Psychology, tenth edition. New York: Worth. Neelakantan, S. (2013). Think about the myocardium. Nature, S16-S17. Segerstrom, SC and Miller, GE (July 2004). Psychological stress and the human immune system: a meta-analytic study of 30 years of investigation. Retrieved from National Center for Biotechnology Information: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1361287/