Rehabilitation and Prevention of Coronary Heart Disease: An Overview of the Type A Behavior Pattern

Abstract

In recent years, physical education has provided the impetus for an increasing number of subspecialties. Among one of the more prominent health-related developments has been the growth of cardiac rehabilitation programs. The complexity of cardiovascular disease necessitates that exercise specialists are cognizant of both the psychological and physiological dilemma of the paticnt. Therefore, this paper provides an integrative review of literature perianing to the coronary-prone behavior pattern (type A). It presents a discussion of the behavioral predispositions associated with this action-emotion complex together with the physiological consequences and concomitant eardiovaseular risk observed in individuals identified as type A. Finally, a social learning framework is offered as an aid to the practitioner in understanding and influencing the modification of such behavior.