Stress and Health Notes

What is Stress?

  • Stress Definition:
    • Stimulus-based: A demanding or threatening event or situation (e.g., exams).
    • Response-based: Physiological responses to a demanding or threatening situation (e.g., increased heart rate when afraid).

Stress as a Process

  • Appraisal Process:
    • Primary Stress Appraisal: Assessing whether the event is threatening or challenging.
    • Secondary Stress Appraisal: Evaluating the ability to cope with the threat.

Primary and Secondary Stress Appraisal

  • Primary Appraisal:
    • Determines if the event poses a threat (potential for harm) or a challenge (potential for growth).
  • Secondary Appraisal:
    • Evaluates coping options based on perceived threat/challenge.
    • High threat = more stress, low threat = less stress.

Good vs. Bad Stress

  • Eustress: Positive stress that can enhance performance.
  • Distress: Negative stress that can lead to decreased performance.
  • Optimal Stress Levels: Balance between high performance and manageable stress levels.

General Adaptation Syndrome (GAS)

  • Body's response to stress in three phases:
    1. Alarm Reaction: Initial reaction to stress.
    2. Resistance: Body adapts to the stressor.
    3. Exhaustion: Prolonged stress can lead to depletion of resources, causing health problems.

Physiological Stress Responses

  • Walter Canon's Concepts:
    • Fight or Flight Response: Immediate reaction to danger.
    • Sympathetic System: Activates stress response.
    • Parasympathetic System: Initiates relaxation response.

Types of Stressors

  • Acute Stress: Short-term, immediate stressors (e.g., sweating, quick breathing).
    • Symptoms include:
    • Increased blood pressure.
    • Increased heart rate.
  • Chronic Stress: Long-term stressors.
    • Symptoms include:
    • Pain, fatigue, indigestion, difficulty concentrating, lack of motivation.

Common Stressors

  • Trauma: Exposure to potentially life-threatening events (e.g., military combat, natural disasters); can lead to PTSD.
  • Life Changes: Events assessed by the Social Readjustment Rating Scale (SRRS), which includes both positive and negative events.
  • Occupational Stress: Can lead to burnout and emotional exhaustion; varies across careers, associated with mental health issues.

Stress and Illness

  • Psychophysiological Disorders: Conditions exacerbated by stress (e.g., hypertension, irritable bowel syndrome).
  • Immune System:
    • Studies in psychoneuroimmunology show that stress can impair immune function:
    • Underreacting: Increased vulnerability to illness.
    • Overreacting: May lead to autoimmune disorders.

Stress and Cardiovascular Health

  • Chronic stress linked to:
    • Hypertension
    • Increased risk of heart problems.
    • 'Type A' personality traits (e.g., competitiveness, urgency) elevate risks.

Other Health Concerns

  • Elevated stress associated with:
    • Asthma
    • Headaches
    • Gastrointestinal issues.