Stress and health

These flashcards cover terms and concepts related to stress and health as discussed in the lecture.

Stressors

Events or situations that cause stress, ranging from traumatic incidents to routine activities.

General Adaptation Syndrome

A three-phase response to stress that includes alarm reaction, resistance, and exhaustion.

Coping

Strategies to manage stress and its effects, which can be psychological or physiological.

Sleep Hygiene

Practices that promote quality sleep, including maintaining a cool, dark, and quiet sleeping environment.

Primary Appraisal

The initial evaluation of whether a situation is stressful.

Secondary Appraisal

The evaluation of one's ability to cope with a stressor.

Repressive Coping

Avoiding the stressor or ignoring the stressor with an artificially positive outlook.

Rational Coping

Facing the stressor with a structured approach to overcome it.

Burnout

A state of emotional, physical, and mental exhaustion caused by prolonged and excessive stress.

Sympathetic Nervous System

The part of the autonomic nervous system that prepares the body for fight or flight during stressful situations.

Parasympathetic Nervous System

The part of the autonomic nervous system that promotes relaxation and recovery.

Telomeres

Caps at the end of chromosomes that protect them; stress can shorten them, leading to accelerated aging.

Aerobic Exercise

Physical activity that increases heart rate and is associated with improved psychological well-being.

Social Support

Interacting with others that can help reduce stress and improve mental health.

Humor

A coping strategy that can reduce sensitivity to pain and distress during stressful situations.

Cholinergic Receptors

Receptors that respond to the neurotransmitter acetylcholine, involved in the body's stress response.