The evaluation of the prevalence of stress and its phases in acute myocardial infarction in patients active in the labour market

• Published in: Revista brasileira de cirurgia cardiovascular 2015-01, Vol.30 (1), p.16-23
• Main Authors: Lucinda, Luciane Boreki, Prosdócimo, Ana Claudia Merchan Giaxa, Carvalho, Katherine Athayde Teixeira de, Francisco, Julio Cesar, Baena, Cristina Pellegrino, Amaral, Vivian Ferreira do, Faria-Neto, Jose Rocha, Souza, Luiz César Guarita
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: CARDIAC & CARDIOVASCULAR SYSTEMS; Cardiology; Estresse; Heart attacks; Heart surgery; Infarto do miocárdio; Labor market; Psicologia; Risk factors; Stress; SURGERY
• ISSN: 0102-7638; 1678-9741; 1678-9741
• DOI: 10.5935/1678-9741.20140068

Introduction: Acute myocardial infarction is a social health problem of epidemiological relevance, with high levels of morbidity and mortality. Stress is one of the modifiable risk factors that triggers acute myocardial infarction. Stress is a result of a set of physiological reactions, which when exaggerated in intensity or duration can lead to imbalances in one's organism, resulting in vulnerability to diseases. Objective: To identify the presence of stress and its phases in hospitalized and active labor market patients with unstable myocardial infarction and observe its correlation with the life of this population with stress. Methods: The methodology used was a quantitative, descriptive and transversal research approach conducted with a total of 43 patients, who were still active in the labor market, presenting or not morbidities. Data collection occurred on the fourth day of their hospitalization and patients responded to Lipp's Stress Symptom Inventory for adults. Results: Thirty-one patients (72.1%) presented stress and twelve (27.8%) did not. In patients with stress, the identified phases were: alert - one patient (3.2%); resistance -twenty-two patients (71.0%); quasi-exhaustion - six patients (19.4%) and exhaustion - two patients (6.5%). All women researched presented stress. Conclusion: The results suggest a high level of stress, especially in the resistance phase, in the male infarcted population, hospitalized and active in the labor market.