Stress

Question 1

What is the alarm phase of the stress response?

Answer 1

-occurs within seconds
-to cope with immediate danger
-can be either physical or emotional
-known as the fight or flight response

Question 2

What changes occur in the body as a result of the alarm phase?

Answer 2

-release of adrenaline and noradrenaline (epinephrine and norepinephrine) from the adrenal medulla
-increase oxygen availability
-increase energy availability
-diverts blood and nutrients to required tissues
-immune function changes are variable

Question 3

What is the resistance phase of the stress response?

Answer 3

-to cope with ongoing demands
-can last for hours, days, years
-response is largely hormonal
-promotes prolonged energy availability
-regulates the activity of many body systems and prepare for potentially deleterious stimuli

Question 4

What role does the growth hormone play in the stress response?

Answer 4

-increases lipolysis to give free fatty acid which are also used as an energy source

-increases glucose availability through gluconeogenesis and glycogenolysis

Question 5

What role does the thyroid hormone play in the stress response?

Answer 5

-increases glucose
-increases breakdown to produce ATP
-increases glycolysis

Question 6

How does the cortisol hormone increase glucose availability?

Answer 6

-gluconeogenesis
-lipolysis
-reduces glucose utilisation
-stimulates appetite

Question 7

How does the cortisol hormone maintain vascular and renal function?

Answer 7

-maintains normal vascular tone and reactivity
-maintains blood pressure
-maintains glomerular filtration rate
-maintains electrolyte balance

Question 8

How does the cortisol hormone suppress the immune system?

Answer 8

-overall inhibits cell-mediated reactions
-inhibits the inflammatory response
-prevents leakage from capillaries to tissues

Question 9

How does the cortisol hormone feedback to central nervous system?

Answer 9

-to inhibit axis
-alters emotion and alterness

Question 10

What is the link between stress and the immune response?

Answer 10

-there is a clear link between stress and decreased immune function
-physical stress associated with larger changes than psychological
-duration of stress associated with the degree and type of change

Question 11

What does over production of cortisol result in?

Answer 11

-hyperglycaemia (insulin resistance)
-tissue wastage
-cardiovascular changes
-immunosuppression (anxiety, psychosis)

Question 12

What does an under production of cortisol result in?

Answer 12

-hypoglycaemia
-hypotension
-weakness
-PTSD like effects

Question 13

What is PTSD?

Answer 13

-a psychiatric disorder that may occur in people who have experienced or witnessed a traumatic event
-it can cause substantial distress and disruption of social and occupational functioning
-often associated with the military

Question 14

What are the 3 types of PTSD effects and give examples for each?

Answer 14

1. re-experiencing symtoms
   -flashbacks
   -recurrent intrusive thoughts
   -disturbing dreams
2. avoidance symptoms
   -avoiding thoughts or feelings/ people and places reminding them of trauma
3. hyperarousal symptoms
   -sleep disturbance
   -increased anger
   -decreased concentration