Health & Stress Flashcards
Stress
At times it is the STIMULUS (missing an appointment) and at other times it is a RESPONSE (sweating while taking a test)
Stress & Stressors
Stress is not merely a stimulus or a response. It is a process by whbich we appraise and cope w/ enviornmental threats and challenges
*When short-lived or taken as a challenge, stressors have positive effects. However, if stress is threatening or prolonged, it can be harmful.
Stressful event –> appraisal(yikes)–> stressed to distraction or challenge(what do i do) —> raroused, focused
Stress & Illness
Stress can be ADAPTIVE.
In a fearful/stress-causing situation, we can run away & save our lives.
*Stress can be MALADAPTIVE. —>
If it is prolonged (chronic stress), it increased our risk of illness and health problems
The Stress Response System (fight or flight)
Canon proposed that the stress response (fast) was a flight-or-light response marked by the outpouring of epinephrine and norepinephrine from the inner adrenal glands —> increasing heart and respiration rates, mobilizing sugar and fat, and dulling pain.
*The hypothalamus and pituitary gland also respond to stress (slow) by triggering the outer adrenal glands to secret glucocorticoids (cortisol)
Stressful Life Events (Catastrophic Events)
Catastrophic Events: earthquakes, combat stress, and floods lead individuals to become depressed, sleepless, and anxious
Significant Life Changes
The death of a loved one, a divorce, a loss of job, or a promotion may leave individuals vulnerable to disease.
Daily Hassles
Rush hour traffic, long lines, job stress, and becoming burnt-out are the most significant sources of stress and can damage health
Stress & Causes of Death
Prolonged stress combined with unhealthy behaviors may increase our risk for some of today’s leading diseases
* Heart disease, cancer, strokes, chronic lung disease
Stress & The Heart
Stress that leads to elevated blood pressure may result in Coronary Heart Disease, a clogging of the vessels that nourish the heart muscle
Personality Types
Type A: a term used for competeive, hard-driving, impatient, verbally aggressive, and anger-prone people.
Type B: refers to easygoing relaxed people (Friedman and Rosenman 1974)
Type A personalities are more likely to develop coronary heart disease
Stress & Immune System
B Lymphocytes fight bacterial infections, T lyphocytes attack cancer cells and virsues, and microphages ingest forgein substances.
*DURING STRESS ENEGRY IS MOBILZIED AWAY FROM THE IMMUNE SYSTEM MAKING IT VULNERABLE *
Stress & Colds
people w/ the highest life stress scores were also the most vulnerable when exposed to experimental cold virus
Stress & Cancer
Stress does not create cancer cells. Researchers disagree on whether stress influences the progression of cancer
Health-Related Consequences
Stress can have a variety of health-related consequences
Coping w/ Stress
*Problem-focused coping refrs to reducing stress bby changing events that cause the stress
*EX changing jobs
*Emotion-focused coping is when we cannot change a stressful situation, and we repsond by attending to our emotional needs.
*EX seeking social support
Perceived Control
Research w/ rats & humans indicates that the absence of control over stressors is a predictor of health problems
Explanatory Style
People w/ optimistic (instead of pessimistic) explanatory style tend to have more control over stressors, cope better w/ stressful events, have better moods, & have a stronger immune system
Pessimism & Heart Disease
Pessmistic adult men are TWICE as likely to develop heart disease over a 10 year period
Social Support
Supportive family members, marriage partners, and close friends help people cope w/ stress.
Their immune functioning calms the cardiovascular system & lowers blood sugar
Managing Stress
- a sense of control
- an optimistic explanatory style
- social support
Biofeedback, Relaxation, & Meditation
Biofeedback systems use electronic devices to inform people about their physiological responses & gives them the change to bring their response to a healthier range
Relaxation and meditation have similar effects in reducing tension and anxiety
Promoting Health
Promoting health is generally defined as the absence of disease. We only think of health when we are diseased. However, health psychologists say that promoting health begins by preventing illness and enhancing well-being which is constant endeavor
Aerobic Exercise
Can aerobic exercise boost spirits —> YES it raises energy, increases self-confidence, & lowers tension, depression, & anxiety.
Life-Style
Modifying a Type-A lifestyle may reduce the recurrence of heart attacks
Managing Stress: Summary
How can stress be managed?
Life events –> personal appraisal, –> threat or challenge
Modifying Illness
The elimination of smoking would increase life expectancy more than any other preventive measure.
Obesity & Morality
The death rate is high among very overweight men
Activity
Lack of exercise is a major contributer to obesity. Just watching TV for two hours resulted in a 23% increase of weight when other factors were controlled
Food Consumption
Over the past 40 years average weight gain has increased. Health professionals are pleading w/ US citizens to limit their food intake.
Trading Risks
Although cigarette smoking has declined over the years in the Americas, obesity is on the rise
Losing Weight
In the US, two-thirds of the women and half of the men say that they want to lose weight. The majority of them lose money on diet programs
Alternative Medicine
Other medicinal ways of achieving health.
Subjective Well-being
Subjective well-being is the self-percieved feelin g of happiness or satisfaction w/ life. Research on new postive psych is o the rise
