Lecture 15 Flashcards
Epidemiological Transition
The shift from infectious diseases to non-infectious diseases as a primary cause of mortality
Pre Transition Society
High death rate due to epidemics, childhood infectious diseases
Low life expectancy
Post Transition Society
Improved sanitation, public health, and medical technology and a reduction of infectious diseases
Chronic and degenerative diseases become a primary cause of death.
Increased life expectancy
Homeostasis
The state of steady internal physical and chemical conditions maintained by living systems
Aka your body stays the same
Allostasis
The regulation of internal biology through rapid changes in physiology.
Different from homeostasis because concept recognizes that the correct biological set point is context dependent
In other words, your body changes or adapts
Also mainly due to the impact of outside conditions
Stressor
• Anything in the environment that elicits an allostatic response
Ex: when running (stressor) our heart starts pumping faster (allostasis)
Acute Stress
Acute stress is short-term stress that happens in response to a specific event or situation, like a test or a sudden danger. It’s temporary and fades once the situation is over.
Increases breathing rate, blood pressure and heart rate
Chronic Stress
Chronic stress is long-term stress that lasts for a long period, often due to ongoing problems like work pressure, health issues, or relationship struggles. It doesn’t go away easily and can affect your health.
Autonomic Nervous System
Regulates unconscious bodily functions such as heart rate, blushing, goosebumps, digestion
Sympathetic Nervous System
Activated by stress
In charge of flight or fight response
Produces epinephrine (a neurotransmitter)
Parasympathetic Nervous System
Turned off by stress
Neurotransmitter
A chemical messenger that is produced by a nerve cells that travels short distances and causes a neighboring cells to respond
HPA Axis
Here’s how the axis works:
Hypothalamus (located in the brain) —— produces CRH hormone—— hormone travels to anterior pituitary gland——pituitary gland produces ACTH hormone—— hormones travels to the adrenal glands located on the kidney—- which produces cortisol
Cortisol
A stress hormone and a metabolic hormone. Functions to increase blood glucose levels, suppress the immune system, and decrease blood formation
Has a diurnal rhythm
Hormone
A chemical messenger produced by a nerve or some other type of cell that is released into the bloodstream and sends a message across the body
