Positive Effects Of Stress - Edrolo Flashcards
Cortisol
Stress hormone released by the adrenal glands to energise the body in times of stress. Main effect is to energise the body by increasing energy supplies such as blood sugar and enhancing metabolism. For example, cortisol acts upon the liver to make it secrete glucose into the bloodstream for the muscles to use as an energy source. Once the level of cortisol reaches a certain level the hypothalamus is signalled to turn off the stress response.
Fight flight freeze response
The initial reactor to stress is the fight flight freeze responses. It is an automatic response of the sympathetic nervous system to a sudden threat that prepares the organism to confront (fight), flee (flight) or remain motionless (freeze). It is an adaptive response that gives the body necessary resources to maximise survival.
HPA Axis DEFINITION
A set of interactions and responses between three endocrine glands – the hypothalamus, the pituitary gland and the adrenal glands – in response to a stressor resulting in the release of cortisol, adrenaline and noradrenaline.
Yerkes-Dodson Curve
A graph that shows the relationship between physiological and psychological arousal and performance in which as arousal increases, an individual’s performance increases, but once the level of arousal becomes too high, an individual’s performance decreases.
Explain the HPA Axis
If we need to deal with a stressor over time, additional physiological resources are required as the body cannot maintain the intensity of the fight and flight reactions for a prolonged period. In these circumstances the HPA Axis is activated.
EXPLAIN PROCESS
The HPA Axis is slower but more longer lasting the the fight flight freeze response.
HPA Axis Process
The sympathetic Nervous System Activates the HPA Axis upon threat or a stressor. The sympathetic Nervous System stimulates the Hypothalamus which stimulates the Pituitary gland to release hormones that stimulate the Adrenal glands (located in the kidneys) which release a range of hormones including cortisol.
Dangers of an excessive amount of cortisol over a long period of time.
Prolonged activation of our stress response systems can be harmful to physical and mental health. One effect of the excessive amount of cortisol over a prolonged time is impaired immune system functioning increasing vulnerability to disease. It can also lead to high blood pressure and cardiovascular disease.
What happens once the level of cortisol reaches a certain level
The hypothalamus is signalled to turn off the stress response. This is part of the normally occurring feedback loop that turns on and off a healthy appropriate physiological response to stress.
