Stress and Illness Flashcards
Define Stress
Demand exceeds capacity
Capcity in this case means
A persons ability to cope
Negative versus positive stress
Physiological response is the same
What distinguished the two is perception
General Adaptve Syndrome
Non specific responses to stressor 3 stages 1. Alarm stage 2. Ressitnace Stage 3. Exhaustion Stage
Alarm Stage
Flight FIght or Freeze
Autonomics control, you want this stage to be short - need to adapt
Resistance Stage
Resources come online in response to continued stress - cortisol - short term is good, long is bad
Exhaustion Stage
Resources breakdown, loss of homeostasis - if you can’t adapt will go into exhaustion
Physiological Stress
Chemical or physical disturbance of cells/tissues
Psychological Stress
Response to an emotional stressor
Reactive
Anticipatory
Reactive Response
A physiological response associated with a given psychological stressor - an exam when dont know answer to a question
Anticipated Response
Stress rxn based on an anticipated disruption of homeostasis - having bad experiences with delta
Hypothalamic Pituitary Adrenocortical Axis (HAP)
Theoretical model of stress physiology
Hypothalamus releases corticotropin releasing hormone –> Stimulate pituitary to release adrenocorticotropic hormone –> stimulates adrenal to release glucocorticoids like corisol
Limbic HAP
In response to anticipatory stress limbic system initiates process by stimulating hypothalamas and sympathetics
Limbic system and stress
Limbic is involved with memory and complex cog processing
Amygdala –> helps form complex emotional responses
Reactions to stress will
vary from person to person
Degree of response is influenced by
Perception/Interpretation Gender Lifestyle Genetics Phyiscal Health Age
Influence of gender
Cortisol inhibits LH progesterone and testosterone
Stress inhibits female reproductive system
Influence of Age
Prolonged exposure at early ages inhibits release of GH
Alterations in limbic system as age
Allostasis and Allostatic Load
Ability to achieve stability through change
Accumulative effects are known as allostatic load
Types of allostatic load
Frequent activation
Lack of adaptation
Failure to deactivate (deactiveat the stressor)
Stress related illness examples
CAD Headaches Asthma Autoimmune disorders Irritable bowel syndrome Impotence Acne Type II Diabetes Amenorrhea Depression Insomnia
Evaluation of stress
Neg events are more stressful than positive ones (release more cortisol)
Events that are unpredicatble or uncontrollable are more stressful
Ambiguity > clear cut = stress is less if clear cut then if ambiguous
Measures of Stress
Self Reports
Behavioral measures - task performance under stress
Physiological measures - HR and BP
Biochemical measures - elevated catecholamines
Measures of Coping
COPE
Ways of Coping Measure - Standard
