Ch. 9 Stress and Adaptation

Question 1

What is homeostasis?

Answer 1

State of constancy that requires feedback control systems and integrates a variety of body systems.

Question 2

What are Cannon’s 4 features of homeostasis?

Answer 2

Mechanisms to maintain constancy.
Change from “steady-state” causes a response.
Response is multifactoral and cooperative. (Can be simultaneous or successive).
“Organized self-government”.

Question 3

What is eustress?

Answer 3

Controllable (mild/brief) periods of stress contributing to emotional and intellectual growth

Question 4

What is allostasis?

Answer 4

Interactive physiologic changes in neuroendocrine, autonomic, and immune systems in response to real or perceived challenges/threats to homeostasis.

Question 5

What is the definition of stress? (Hans Selye)

Answer 5

“A state manifested by a specific syndrome of the body developed in response to any stimuli that made an intense systemic demand on it”

Question 6

What is an endogenous stressor?

Answer 6

A stressor within the body.

Question 7

What is an exogenous stressor?

Answer 7

A stressor outside the body.

Question 8

What are the two things that the response to stress is dependent on?

Answer 8

Properties of the stressor and condition of the person being stressed.

Question 9

What are the internal factors affecting the stress condition?

Answer 9

Genetic, age, gender

Question 10

What are the external factors affecting the stress condition?

Answer 10

Environmental exposure, life experiences, dietary, social support

Question 11

What is General Adaptive Syndrome? (GAS)

Answer 11

“General systemic reaction in response to a stressor resulting in physical manifestations coordinated and dependent on each other.”

Question 12

What occurs during the alarm stage of general adaptation syndrome?

Answer 12

SNS and HPA axis stimulation

Release of catecholamines and cortisol

Question 13

What occurs during the resistance stage of general adaptation syndrome?

Answer 13

Body responds and adapts

Cortisol levels drop

Question 14

What occurs during the exhaustion stage of general adaptation syndrome?

Answer 14

Resources are depleted.

Damage to systems if prolonged.

Question 15

What is the neuroendocrine system response?

Answer 15

Release of neurohormones in response to stress.

Question 16

What does the release of neurohormones result in?

Answer 16

Energy
Sharpened focus & awareness
Increased cerebral blood flow and glucose utilization
Enhanced CV and respiratory function
Shunting of blood to brain/muscles
Modulation of immune response
Inhibition of reproductive function
Decreased appetite

Question 17

Which neurohormones are released as part of the stress response?

Answer 17

Catecholamines
Cortisol
Angiotensin II
Aldosterone
ADH

Question 18

What is the effect of cortisol?

Answer 18

Potentiates epinephrine and glucagon
Decreases non-essential energy-using activities (metabolic rate, reproductive, osteoblasts, RBC/WBC production, immune system)

Question 19

What occurs hormonally during the sympathetic “fight or flight” response?

Answer 19

Rapid response to trauma and emergency
Epinephrine & norepinephrine both released
Both attach to adrenergic receptors on cells

Question 20

What are the effects of stress on the immune system?

Answer 20

Decreased immune cell production.
Decreased thymus activity (eventual atrophy)
Monocytes and lymphocytes release inflammatory mediators and cytokines which interfere with brain activities.

Question 21

What are the physiologic reserve factors that influence the ability to adapt?

Answer 21

Ability of body systems to increase their function

RBCs, heart rate, vasodilation/constriction

Question 22

What are the anotomic reserve factors that influence the ability to adapt?

Answer 22

Paired organs

Question 23

What are some factors that affect the ability to adapt?

Answer 23

Time available to adapt
Genetic endowment/acquisition
Age
Gender
Health status
Nutrition
Sleep-wake cycles
Hardiness
Psychosocial factors

Question 24

What are some things that can affect sleep-wake cycles?

Answer 24

Jet lag
Pain
Surgery
Insomnia
Sleep deprivation
Loss (emotional)
Stress
Environment
Shift work

Question 25

What is “hardiness”?

Answer 25

Ability to conceptualize stressors as a challenge rather than a threat.

Question 26

What is the acute stress response to a threat to physiologic environment?

Answer 26

Moment-to-moment feedback mechanisms are specific to threat.

Question 27

What is the acute stress response to threat to the psychosocial environment?

Answer 27

Response is not specific, and therefore may be inappropriate and sustained.

Question 28

What is the affect of acute stress on the ANS?

Answer 28

result in arousal, alertness, vigilance, cognition, focused attention, appropriate aggression

Question 29

Why is the HPA axis response crucial?

Answer 29

Resultant hyperglycemia is not understood well but results in poorer outcomes for serious illness (low dose insulin has a positive effect)

Question 30

When does the chronic stress response occur?

Answer 30

Component of the stress response system fails.
Original stimulus is prolonged/adaptation exhausted.
Results in over-reaction, or under-reaction

Question 31

What are some examples of chronic stress manifesetations?

Answer 31

Necrotizing gingivitis
Herpes Simplex Virus (HSV) 1
Rhinovirus infections
Exacerbation of any disease process

Question 32

What is post-traumatic stress disorder?

Answer 32

Chronic activation of stress response d/t significant traumatic event

Question 33

What are some examples of traumatic events that could cause PTSD?

Answer 33

Combat
Major accident/bombing
Environmental (hurricanes, typhoons, etc)
Rape
Child abuse

Question 34

What are the three components of the PTSD symptom triad?

Answer 34

Intrusion
Avoidance
Hyperarousal

Question 35

What things can occur in the “intrusion” component of the PTSD symptom triad?

Answer 35

Flashback/nightmares of event

Question 36

What things can occur during the “avoidance” component of the PTSD symptom triad?

Answer 36

Emotional numbing
Depression
Survival guilt

Question 37

What things can occur during the “hyperarousal” component of the PTSD triad?

Answer 37

Irritability/anxiety
Exaggerated startle reflex
Difficulty concentrating/memory problems
Increased concern over one’s safety
Sleep disturbances