Psychophysiological Cardiovascular Functioning in Hostile Defensive Women

Cardiovascular diseases are the leading causes of death and disability in the world, in both developed and developing countries, and also in both sexes. In fact one third of annual deaths worldwide are due to cardiovascular problems, according to the WHO (World Health Organization) estimated 17.3 million people died from CVDs in 2008, over 80% of CVD deaths take place in lowand middle-income countries, and by 2030, almost 23.6 million people will die from CVDs (in http://www.who.int/cardiovascular_diseases). Therefore, is a serious problem, and not only in industrialized countries, indeed, is an epidemic that not only continues but it is precisely in the developing countries, where it currently is increasing dramatically. On the other hand, prevalence and mortality from these diseases among women has increased in an exaggerated way. This for several reasons: first, as mentioned, in women the death rate from CVDs has increased significantly, equaling or exceeding that of the male population, so we think it is of great importance to focus on studies considering this sector only a few risk factors have also increased; second, the sample with which we had consisted mostly of women, given the characteristics of it (psychology undergraduates), which were removed the few men who participated in the study. Thus, from these data and indications, and since most studies have focused on people of both sexes or only male, we considered appropriate to carry out research with a sample of only women.