Lecture 21: stress and health

Question 1

What is a stressor?

Answer 1

an EVENT that places demand on an organism for some kind of an adaptive response

Question 2

What is a stress?

Answer 2

PATTERN OF RESPONSES an organism makes to an event that DISTURBS its equilibrium and taxes/exceeds its ABILITY TO COPE
person’s capacity to adapt/cope with inner and outer demand
physiologically and emotionally arousing
elicit cognitive and behavioural efforts to cope

Question 3

What is the physiological stress response?

Answer 3

Fight or flight response
Parasympathetic
Adrenal Medulla
immune system depressed during EXHAUSTED stage
HPA axis- produces cortisol, release glucose for energy
Immunosuppressant
Reduces inflammation
-UNIVERSAL responses, almost reflexive - people vary according to biological differences, appraisals of the event and personality
GENERAL ADAPTATION SYNDROME
(1. Alarm (initial reaction),
2. Resistance (HORMONAL-to cope with the effect (non neural)
3. Exhaustion (resources depleted and increased body vulnerability- can become ill)
- increase likelihood of contracting infectious diseases, slow wound healing, contribute to development of hypertension and heart disease

Question 4

What are the 5x types of durational stress?

Answer 4

1. ACUTE time limited (lab based-do math)
2. BRIEF NATURAL stresses (exams)
3. EVENT sequences (loss of spouse)
4. CHRONIC stressors (caregiver, war, low SES)
5. DISTANT stressors (child abuse, trauma- places HPA axis in disarray)

Question 5

What is meant be stress as a transactional process?

Answer 5

Transaction between an individual and an environment

1. PRIMARY appraisal: person DECIDES is a situation is benign, stressful or irrelevant
2. SECONDARY appraisal: person EVALUATES options and decides how to REPOND

Question 6

What are the 3x types of stress interpretations?

Answer 6

1. harm or loss
2. threat
3. a challenge

Question 7

How can you measure stress?

Answer 7

Self report - identify stressful events (some can actually be normally positive (e.g. marriage))
Perceived stress scale: ask the patient. measures the degree to which situations in one’s life are appraised as stressful
have to also consider: demand characteristic (stranger asking you) - multidisciplinary approach
Measure physiological response:
1. Heart rate
2. Blood Pressure
3. Stress Hormones
4. Cortisol

Question 8

What are the 2x pathways between stress and illness?

Answer 8

1. DIRECT effects on PHYSIOLOGY : high BP, impact on immune function, atherosclerosis
2. INDIRECT effects on BEHAVIOUR - increased smoking, substance abuse (drugs and alcohol), sleep problems- all which in turn affect health

Question 9

What is the general adaptation syndrome?

Answer 9

GENERAL ADAPTATION SYNDROME

(1. Alarm (initial reaction),
2. Resistance (HORMONAL-to cope with the effect (non neural)
3. Exhaustion (resources depleted and increased body vulnerability- can become ill)
- UNIVERSAL responses, almost reflexive - people vary according to biological differences, appraisals of the event and personality

Question 10

How can you relate the Cardiovascular system as a model effected by stress?

Answer 10

BIG RESPONSEs=BIG TROUBLES (increased likelihood to get sick)physiology is always happening
homeostasis continually maintained
PHYSICAL DEMAND:e.g. stand up (HR and BP adjusted to meet this demand)
NO PHYSICAL DEMAND e.g. stuck in TRAFFIC, (HR and BP raised)- more of a PSYCHOLOGICAL demand
VASOVAGAL SYNCOPE= common cause of FAINTING, as body will DEPRIVE other systems(let blood pool in veins) to get what is needs (oxygen and glucose)

Question 11

What are some psychological issues related to stress?

Answer 11

MENTAL, PHYSICAL, and DOES influence HEALTH
Big responses= Big troubles
future and past SAM activation = Worry and Rumination
-AUTOMATICITY outside of consciuosness-more automatic to how stress rather than something consciously activated
PROLONGED ACTIATION of SAM
Increased RISK OF CDV cardiovascular disease

Question 12

What are 2x health disparities in relation to stress levels?

Answer 12

1. perceived DISCRIMINATION
   - observable/physical differences
   - social exclusion
   - underlying dynamics
   - greater problem 40+ years
2. ETHNIC IDENTITY (mainly ethnic rigidity - physical similarities)
   - BLUNTING- not responding to stress can have v negative long term prolonged effects
   - blunting can lead to DECREASED cardiovascular response (can have prolonged longterm negative effects)
   - Ethnic RIGIDITY - “PERCEPTION OF IDENTITY” - if you don’t look Maori you’re Not Maori
   - 3:1 maori:european