Exam Concept Review: Chapter 26

Question 1

What can severe or prolonged stress cause?

Answer 1

Increase wear and tear on tissues

Exhaustion of resources

Exacerbation of chronic conditions

Question 2

What are the significant effects of stress?

Answer 2

Think sympathetic nervous system (fight or flight response):

Elevated blood pressure

Bronchodilaton and increased ventilation

Increase blood glucose levels:
Need sugar for energy

Arousal of central nervous system

Decrease inflammatory and immune response:
Not important pieces when running away or fighting a enemy

Question 3

What is General Adaptation Syndrome (GAS)?

Answer 3

Alarm stage (everything gets activated):
Mobilization of defenses (hypothalamus, sympathetic nervous system, adrenal glands)

Resistance stage (everything is elevated - body is going operate at a peak performance level):
Elevation of hormonal levels (body systems operate at peak performance levels)

Final stage (exhausted all resources - “Exhaustion Stage”):
Resolution or death stage

Question 4

What are the potential effects of prolonged or severe stress?

Answer 4

Renal failure (decrease blood flow because we won’t need to pee to fight or runaway from an enemy):
Prolonged severe vasoconstriction 

Ischemia causes cell damage

Stress ulcers:
Vasoconstriction and glucocorticoids (“steroids”)

Decrease in mucosal generation and mucus production

Infection:
Depression of the inflammatory and immune responses

Slowed healing (due to all the processes):
Following trauma or surgery
Increase secretion of Glucocorticoid- reduction in protein synthesis and tissue regeneration

Increased catecholamine levels- vasoconstriction, reduced nutrients and oxygen to tissue

Post-traumatic stress disorder:
Serious consequence of major disaster or personal threat

Usually occurs within 3 months of event (may cause symptoms years later)

High risk of developing dependence on drugs and/or alcohol

Question 5

What does endorphin do?

Answer 5

Blocks pain

Ex: this is how someone who is in a car accident can just walk away because the endorphins kicked in)

Question 6

What are the specific problems related to stress and disease?

Answer 6

Headache: may develop during or after stress response

Stomatitis (ulcers in mouth) and necrotizing periodontal disease

Prolonged vasoconstriction:
Can impair function or necrosis in Gastrointestinal tract or kidneys

Vessels are constricting to keep heart rate and blood pressure up (sympathetic vs parasympathetic)

Precipitating factor:
Chronic infections

Physical and/or emotional distress