Professor Andrew Steptoe
BHF Chair of
Psychology
University College London
It's been known for many years that
emotional stress influences blood pressure, heart
rate and blood flow. Professor Steptoe and his team study the
effect that emotional stress has on biological processes directly
involved with heart disease.
Socio-economics and heart disease
In previous studies, Professor Steptoe and
team have found that people from lower socio-economic groups tend
to suffer the biological effects of stress for longer than more
affluent people, which in turn influences heart
health. The researchers are now undertaking a new
study to determine if a person’s socio-economic position, work
stress, social support and social isolation might be important risk
factors for developing heart disease.
Psychology of heart health
Professor Steptoe’s team has
discovered that in some patients, intense episodes of anger and
stress occur in the hours immediately before the onset of chest
pain and they are now studying the biology behind these
effects.
In another new study Professor Steptoe and his team will monitor
patients admitted to hospital with a heart attack to understand why
some patients become depressed and anxious after the heart attack
while others do not. They will also look at the way in which a
person’s emotional response to the heart attack may influence the
success of their rehabilitation.
Quality of life
Heart disease can have severe effects on later quality of life
and Professor Steptoe’s team are studying the ways in which
emotional factors and a patient’s understanding of their illness
contributes to their later quality of life.
Promoting healthy behaviour change
Living an unhealthy lifestyle can lead to
heart and circulatory disease. Professor Steptoe and his team are
developing and testing new ways of counselling patients and
encouraging them to change their lifestyle to make it healthier.
They are also exploring how the Internet can be used most
effectively to support a person’s behaviour change, not only by
providing information but also by giving specific advice about how
best to start and maintain healthier habits.
Professor Steptoe undertakes some research funded by the
National
Prevention Research Initiative, of which we are a partner.
