Health & Stress

Question 1

Stress

Answer 1

At times it is the STIMULUS (missing an appointment) and at other times it is a RESPONSE (sweating while taking a test)

Question 2

Stress & Stressors

Answer 2

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

Question 3

Stress & Illness

Answer 3

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

Question 4

The Stress Response System (fight or flight)

Answer 4

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)

Question 5

Stressful Life Events (Catastrophic Events)

Answer 5

Catastrophic Events: earthquakes, combat stress, and floods lead individuals to become depressed, sleepless, and anxious

Question 6

Significant Life Changes

Answer 6

The death of a loved one, a divorce, a loss of job, or a promotion may leave individuals vulnerable to disease.

Question 7

Daily Hassles

Answer 7

Rush hour traffic, long lines, job stress, and becoming burnt-out are the most significant sources of stress and can damage health

Question 8

Stress & Causes of Death

Answer 8

Prolonged stress combined with unhealthy behaviors may increase our risk for some of today’s leading diseases
* Heart disease, cancer, strokes, chronic lung disease

Question 9

Stress & The Heart

Answer 9

Stress that leads to elevated blood pressure may result in Coronary Heart Disease, a clogging of the vessels that nourish the heart muscle

Question 10

Personality Types

Answer 10

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

Question 11

Stress & Immune System

Answer 11

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 *

Question 12

Stress & Colds

Answer 12

people w/ the highest life stress scores were also the most vulnerable when exposed to experimental cold virus

Question 13

Stress & Cancer

Answer 13

Stress does not create cancer cells. Researchers disagree on whether stress influences the progression of cancer

Question 14

Health-Related Consequences

Answer 14

Stress can have a variety of health-related consequences

Question 15

Coping w/ Stress

Answer 15

*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

Question 16

Perceived Control

Answer 16

Research w/ rats & humans indicates that the absence of control over stressors is a predictor of health problems

Question 17

Explanatory Style

Answer 17

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

Question 18

Pessimism & Heart Disease

Answer 18

Pessmistic adult men are TWICE as likely to develop heart disease over a 10 year period

Question 19

Social Support

Answer 19

Supportive family members, marriage partners, and close friends help people cope w/ stress.
Their immune functioning calms the cardiovascular system & lowers blood sugar

Question 20

Managing Stress

Answer 20

• a sense of control
• an optimistic explanatory style
• social support

Question 21

Biofeedback, Relaxation, & Meditation

Answer 21

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

Question 22

Promoting Health

Answer 22

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

Question 23

Aerobic Exercise

Answer 23

Can aerobic exercise boost spirits —> YES it raises energy, increases self-confidence, & lowers tension, depression, & anxiety.

Question 24

Life-Style

Answer 24

Modifying a Type-A lifestyle may reduce the recurrence of heart attacks

Question 25

Managing Stress: Summary

Answer 25

How can stress be managed?

Life events –> personal appraisal, –> threat or challenge

Question 26

Modifying Illness

Answer 26

The elimination of smoking would increase life expectancy more than any other preventive measure.

Question 27

Obesity & Morality

Answer 27

The death rate is high among very overweight men

Question 28

Activity

Answer 28

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

Question 29

Food Consumption

Answer 29

Over the past 40 years average weight gain has increased. Health professionals are pleading w/ US citizens to limit their food intake.

Question 30

Trading Risks

Answer 30

Although cigarette smoking has declined over the years in the Americas, obesity is on the rise

Question 31

Losing Weight

Answer 31

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

Question 32

Alternative Medicine

Answer 32

Other medicinal ways of achieving health.

Question 33

Subjective Well-being

Answer 33

Subjective well-being is the self-percieved feelin g of happiness or satisfaction w/ life. Research on new postive psych is o the rise