Scientific Knowledge Base

Question 1

Stress

Answer 1

Stress can impact the physical and mental well-being of patients as well as
their entire families and communities.Stress is described as an actual or alleged hazard to the balance of
homeostasis. It is often described as a physical, chemical, or emotional
factor that produces tension in the body or the mind. Stressors are any
physical, psychological, or social stimuli that are capable of producing
stress and endangering homeostasis.Appraisal is
how a person interprets the impact of the stressor. If symptoms of stress persist beyond the duration of
the stressor, a person experiences a trauma.

Question 2

General Adaptation Syndrome

Answer 2

a three-stage set of physiological
processes that prepare, or adapt, the body for danger so that an individual
is more likely to survive when faced with a threat. (1) initial
alarm, (2) resistance as a person attempts to compensate for changes
induced by the alarm stage, and (3) a state of exhaustion if the person
cannot adapt successfully during the stage of resistance or if stress remains
unrelieved. When stress reaches chronic and harmful levels, negative
consequences follow.When the body encounters a physical demand such as an injury,
the pituitary gland initiates the GAS. A fundamental concept underlying
this reaction is that the body will a􀄴empt to return to a state of balance, a
process referred to as allostasis. During the alarm stage the central nervous system is aroused, and body
defenses are mobilized; this is the fight-or-flight response. During this stage rising hormone levels result in increased blood volume, blood glucose levels, epinephrine and norepinephrine, heart rate, blood flow to muscles, oxygen intake, and mental alertness. In addition, the pupils of the
eyes dilate to produce a greater visual field. If the stressor poses an
extreme threat to life or remains for a long time, the person progresses to the second stage, resistance.The resistance stage also contributes to the fight-or-flight response, and
the body stabilizes and responds in an a􀄴empt to compensate for the
changes induced by the alarm stage (Huether et al., 2017). Hormone levels,
heart rate, blood pressure, and cardiac output should return to normal,
and the body tries to repair any damage that occurred.In the exhaustion stage continuous stress causes progressive breakdown
of compensatory mechanisms. This occurs when the body is no longer able
to resist the effects of the stressor and has depleted the energy necessary to
maintain adaptation. The physiological response has intensified, but the
person’s ability to adapt to the stressor diminishes.This chronic arousal with the presence of powerful hormones
causes excessive wear and tear on bodily organs and is called allostatic
load. A persistent allostatic load can cause long-term physiological
problems such as chronic hypertension, depression, sleep deprivation,
chronic fatigue syndrome, and autoimmune disorders

Question 3

Immune Response (GAS)

Answer 3

The physiological interactions between the neuroendocrine stress response
and the immune system are complex. The stress response directly
influences the immune system (Huether et al., 2017). Stress causes
prolonged changes in the immune system, which can result in impaired
immune function. As stress increases, the person is more susceptible to
changes in health such as increased risk for infection, high blood pressure,
diabetes, and cancers.

Question 4

Reaction to Psychological Stress (GAS)

Answer 4

Evaluating an event in terms of personal meaning
is primary appraisal.Secondary appraisal,
the process by which a person considers possible available coping
strategies or resources, occurs at the same time.Ego-defense mechanisms
regulate emotional distress and thus give a person protection from anxiety
and stress.

Question 5

Types of Stress

Answer 5

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) begins when a person
experiences or witnesses a traumatic event and responds with intense fear
or helplessness. PTSD is common among military personnel and veterans
and police, particularly soldiers who have been involved in combat or
police involved in violent acts. Soldiers often witness or participate in
disturbing events, producing dramatic symptoms. Some other examples of
traumatic events that lead to PTSD include motor vehicle crashes, natural
disasters, or violent personal assault. Anxiety associated with PTSD is
sometimes manifested by nightmares and emotional detachment. Some
people with PTSD experience flashbacks, or recurrent and intrusive
recollections of the event. Depression and PTSD commonly occur together. Secondary traumatic stress is the trauma a person experiences from
witnessing other people’s suffering. A crisis implies that a person is facing a turning point in life. This means
that previous ways of coping are ineffective, and the person must change.
There are three types of crises: (1) maturational or developmental crises,
(2) situational crises, and (3) disasters or adventitious crises