Stress Physiology and its Effects

These flashcards cover key vocabulary related to the physiology of stress, its stages, effects on mental and physical health, and associated disorders.

Stress

A trigger for both physiological and psychological responses when faced with threatening or overwhelming situations.

• The discussion covers how the body responds, how stress progresses over time, and how it affects mental and physical health.

Fight or Flight response

An autonomic nervous system reaction that prepares the body to either fight or flee from a threat.

●Mobilises organism for

 

➢attacking (fight), like increased heart rate or faster breathing , Muscle tension as the body prepares to attack (fight) or flee (flight)

 

➢fleeing (flight) an enemy

 

➢freeze/ shock state , in some cases, fear can lead to immobility and a drop in heart rate, along with muscle tension.

 

General Adaptation Syndrome (GAS)

A model describing the body's response to prolonged stress in three stages: alarm, resistance, and exhaustion.

Adaptive survival purpose fight or flight

• if the danger does not abate, the organism remains perpetually aroused= lead to deteriorating health as the body continues to deliver the resources away from everyday maintenance and towards an emergency readiness

• Not so adaptive in themodern world for humans

   

  •Lengthy stressors leave individuals in a state of

  enduring physiologicalarousal

   

  Boss at work gives u a lot of task

General Adaptation Syndrome (Selye, 1956)

• The General Adaptation Syndrome (GAS) describes the body’s response to prolonged stress in three stages:

Alarm stage:

Resistance stage

Exhaustion stage

• Non specific, regardless of magnitude of stress

• meaning the underlying response pattern is the same regardless of the stressor (e.g., car accident or losing keys).

• Larger stress only means you’re going through stages more quickly 

Alarm stage

The initial response of the body to stress where there is heightened physiological arousal.

an unmistakable, acute recognition of threat with heightened physiological arousal, release of adrenaline and other hormones such as cortisol as well as sympathetic nervous system activation,

Fight or flight response= blood pressure heart rate respiration blood sugar rises, blood is diverted from Gastro. You’ll track to muscles and other parts of the body.

STRESS PHYSIOLOGY

How body response to stress

 

General Adaptation Syndrome (Selye, 1956)

Resistance stage

A stage where physiological changes stabilize and the body copes with the stressor.

• physiological changes stabilize as we cope with the stressor.

• Parasympathetic nervous system returns respiration heart rate to normal, however blood glucose level remain high and stress related hormones including adrenaline and cortisol continue to circulate at elevated Level

• However, organism remains red alert with heightened energy arousal but has begun to adapt to higher level of stress

Exhaustion stage

The final phase of GAS where resources are depleted, leading to burnout or collapse.

if stress or resistance stage is prolonged, resources are depleted, arousal decreases, resistance is reduced, and burnout or collapse can occur.

• Psychological defensive breakdown, resulting in greatly increased vulnerability to serious or even life-threatening diseases

• Hearts and other organs are vulnerable genetically or environmentally are the first during the stage

Burnout

A key consequence of chronic work-related stress characterized by physical and emotional exhaustion.

Visual/Diagram Reference (GAS)

Diagram description (as described in the transcript):

• Alarm stage: resistance drops initially.

• Resistance stage: resistance rises and stabilises as coping occurs.

• Exhaustion stage: resistance drops again due to depletion from long-term coping.

• Consequences of exhaustion: burnout or nervous breakdown may occur when resources are depleted.

Type A personality

A personality type characterized by strong competitive orientation, impatience, and hostility, associated with higher stress levels and heart disease.

Impact of STRESS & PSYCHOLOGICAL HEALTH

Problems:

●Poor academic/occupational performance

 

●Burnout (exhaustion), physical and emotional

• Burnout is a key consequence of chronic work-related stress and involves:

  • Physical and emotional exhaustion

  • Cynicism

  • Lowered self-efficacy

  • Cognitive effects: forgetfulness, reduced focus, and second-guessing oneself

 

●Insomnia & other sleep disturbances

 

●Sexual difficulties

 

●Alcohol/drug abuse

Psychological disorders and stress

Stress is related to mental health issues and can act as a precursor to certain conditions:

●Depression

 ●Schizophrenia

• stressful life events can trigger psychotic episodes in those with a predisposition; children with high anxiety and genetic risk may be particularly vulnerable

●Eating disorders ,binging etc.

• Anxiety disorders

• Stress vs. anxiety:

  • Stress is typically triggered by external factors.

  • Anxiety is defined by persistent, excessive worries that persist even in the absence of a stressor (often linked to future-orientated concerns).

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)

A psychological disturbance resulting from the experience of a major traumatic event,

●Seen in victims, survivors, witnesses, as well as rescue workers

●Symptoms:

• nightmares,

• flashbacks, 

• emotional numbing,

• alienation, 

• disrupted social relations,

• vulnerability, 

• anxiety,

• anger, guilt

 

Psychological disorders

Mental health issues that can be related to stress, such as depression and anxiety disorders.

Stress & physical health

Stress has impact on morality and health

 

Type-A Personality, Hostility, & Heart Disease

 Type A personality

●strong competitive orientation

●impatience & time urgency

●anger & hostility

 -> lead to more stress

higher stress levels and greater incidence of heart disease linked to aggressive responses to stress.

 

Type B personality

●relaxed, patient, & easy-going

●Heart disease accounts for

~40% of deaths

-> lead to less stress, lower risk of heart disease

 

Anger and hostile linked to heart disease   

 

Type A à heart disease link primarily due to anger/hostility

Optimism pessimism

• Optimism patient recovered more colleague in return to normal life more easily than pessimistic patience

Immune response

The body's defensive reaction to invasion by harmful agents, which can be weakened by stress.

Immune Functioning

• Stress induces physiological arousal that can lead to inflammation and immune resource depletion as the body fights internal inflammation.

• This aligns with GAS resistance: resources are redirected toward coping, potentially reducing immune defense.

 

●Immune response is the body’s defensive reaction to invasion by bacteria, viral agents, or other foreign substances

 

●Stressors such as crowding, shock, lack of food & restraint reduce immune functioning in animals

 

●Also in humans

➢Stress & the common cold

Cortisol

A hormone released in response to stress that can affect various bodily functions.

Immune system and cells with stress

Immune system is bodies civilian and security system which detects and eliminate disease is causing agents in the bodies such as bacteria viruses

Three important types of cells in immune system systems:

• B. Cells.

• T cells

• Natural killer cells

B Cells	T cells	Natural killer cells
produce antibodies, protein molecules that attach themselves to foreign invaders and mark them full destruction	something sells reach out directly to destroy invaders while other T cells the tea help cells stimulate immune functioning	Fight viruses and timorous

 

Both acute and chronic stress can affect the efficiency and availability of cell immune system and hence the body capacity to fight disease

Neuroticism

A personality trait associated with a tendency to experience negative emotions and higher reactivity to stress.

Stress and memory

• prefrontal cortex place particular important role in working memory

• Hippocampus involved in long-term memory

• Stress interferes with functioning of both of these structures

• Stress leads to permanent cell death and reduction and size of the hippocampus

• Stress early in life can change spread the brain structures and children

• Biological changes in the brain can lead to mental and physical disorders. Emotional regulation behaviour difficulties and disorganise dysfunctioning of neural systems in the brain.

Adrenaline

A hormone released during the fight or flight response that boosts energy and prepares the body for rapid response.

Personality and stress

• participants high in neuroticism= tendency to experience negative emotion , passion, and anxiety= the more daily problems they reported and the more reactive they were to stresses and distressed by bad things that happened to them

Psychosomatic illnesses

Physical diseases that are thought to be caused or exacerbated by mental factors such as stress or anxiety.

B Cells

Immune cells that produce antibodies to mark foreign invaders for destruction.

T Cells

Immune cells that help stimulate the immune response and directly destroy infected cells.

Natural Killer Cells

A type of immune cell that plays a crucial role in the body's defense against tumors and virally infected cells.