Fight or flight - stress responses

Question 1

What ways can the body react when in a scary situation?

Answer 1

sweating
nausea
increased heart rate
shaky
dry mouth
hyperventilation

Question 2

What could produce stress hormones?

Answer 2

A stressful situation, something environmental eg. work deadlines or psychological eg. worry about losing a job.

Question 3

What are the types of stress?

Answer 3

Short term stress
Chronic stress

Question 4

What is short term stress?

Answer 4

Events such as an exams are mediated by the sympathomedullary pathway (SAM)

Question 5

How does our body react for short term stress?

Answer 5

Autonomic nervous system (ANS) changes from the resting state - parasympathetic - to the aroused state - sympathetic.
Pituitary gland releases ACTH producing adrenaline
Adrenaline is released into the bloodstream creating the fight or flight response.
Parasympathetic acts like a ‘brake’, reducing the effects of the sympathetic system. Rest and digest.

Question 6

What is chronic stress?

Answer 6

If the stress continues after fight or flight, the brain activates a second response called the HPA axis.

Question 7

What is in the HPA axis?

Answer 7

Hypothalamus
Pituitary gland
Adrenal gland

Question 8

What does the HPA axis do for chronic stress?

Answer 8

Hypothalamus releases CRH into the bloodstream.
CRH causes the pituitary to release ACTH which travels through the bloodstream to the adrenal glands.
Adrenal cortex releases cortisol, increasing glucose levels in the bloodstream and enhances the brains use of glucose. Also increasing the availability of substances in the body that repair tissue