Stress & Disease Flashcards
How was stress viewed in the Early 14th Century?
Used to indicate hardship, straits, adversity or affliction
How was stress viewed in the 17th Century?
“Load” - external force
“Stress” - internal forces created by load
“strain” - deformation or distortion of object
How was stress viewed in the 19th and 20th Centuries?
- stress and strain thought to be the cause of “ill health” and “mental disease”
- Hans Seyle
What is Hans Seyle?
orchestrated set of bodily responses to any form of noxious stimuli
The concept of stress is studied by multiple disciplines. What are the 3 basic concepts related to stress?
- Homeostasis
- Stress and the Stress Response
- Adaptation and Coping
What is homeostasis?
constancy between internal and external environments
What are some examples of stress on the body?
- Temperature (physiological stress)
- Trauma (physical ‘upheaval’ of homeostasis)
- Emotional Stress (tests, family, illness, relationships)
- Infection
- Exercise (could be a good stress!)
What did Milieu Interieur have to say about the constancy of internal environment?
A multicellular organism is able to survive only as long as the composition of the internal environment is compatible with the survival needs of the individual cell.
What did Walter B. Cannon have to say about the constancy of internal environment?
- homeostasis is a system of physiologic processes that opposes change
- when a factor shifts homeostasis in one direction, mechanisms exist that have the opposite effect (i.e. Blood sugar)
Milieu Interieur and Walter B. Cannon pretty much just stated the obvious… sum up what they said.
Emotional stress (internal) can cause illness and disease (external, physical)
What are the 3 stages of stress response?
1) Alarm
2) Resistance/Adaptation
3) Exhaustion/Allostatic overload
Describe the Alarm stage of stress response.
- Stage 1
- generalized stimulation of SYMPATHETIC nervous system
-adrenal glands are stimulated to release catecholamines and cortisol. These hormones play a part in the fight or flight response
Describe the Resistance/Adaptation stage of stress response.
-selects most effective and economical channel of defense
this is a way of defending ourselves against the stress becoming chronic
Describe the Exhaustion/Allostatic Overload Stage of stress response.
- resources (support systems) are depleted and signs of “wear and tear” appear
- interactive physiological changes in numerous systems from overload and exhaustion
Define/Describe Allostasis.
the ability to achieve stability through change
-how one “mounts a response” to what happened
previous experience and learning serves as a control system
-“I’ve been through this before, I know I have the ability to get through this”
It is a cognitive activation theory of stress
When does instability in Allostasis occur?
when there is a discrepancy between what the person perceives and what the situation actually is.
usually an acute stress causes this
What are some common S/S of Stress?
- increased Cholesterol
- increased BP that may remain elevated
- localized inflammation (inflammatory response to stress)
- Faster blood clotting
- increased acidity in stomach (could lead to ulcers)
- elevated Blood sugar (NOT related to Diabetes)
- increase metabolism
- slow digestion
The Stress Response initiates what two responses?
Neuroendocrine( Functional changes - hormones) and Immune Response (how we react)
What is the cause of the rise in blood sugar during stress?
cortisol being released from the adrenal glands
What are some factors that play a role in our Adaptive Capacity to stress?
Genetic Endowment Age Hardiness Gender Nutrition/Health Status Psychosocial Factors Physiological Reserve Sleep-Wake Cycles Time (how fast does the response have to occur)
Discuss the connection between Genetics and Adaptive Capacity.
There are genetic codes that have been linked to stress adaptation and the person’s ability to cope.
ex: Alcoholism
Discuss the connection between Age and Adaptive Capacity.
As you age, you have more experiences and realize you have a better adaptive capacity because you may have been through similar/or worse before
What is Hardiness?
- emotional reaction to stress/how we handle stress
- Depends on what mechanisms we already have established to handle stress
Discuss the connection between Nutrition/Health status and Adaptive Capacity.
Malnutrition states and poor health status will lessen someone’s ability to cope with stress because their body is already in a stressed state and/or not prepared to meet the nutritional demands stress creates
What are examples of psychosocial factors of Adaptive Capacity?
support systems
-family, friends, groups, etc.
What is a person’s physiological reserve?
the ability for body systems to increase function to help give what the organs require in the time of need
-ex: kidneys, lungs, adrenal glands
Discuss the connection between Sleep-Wake Cycles and Adaptive Capacity.
- sleep restores us which helps our ability to cope
- sleep disorders can affect the immune system
How does Time affect Adaptive Capacity?
People adapt better to changes when they happen over an extended period of time
Discuss Acute Stress.
“Fight or Flight” should be a time limited response
-the extra OOMF needed to get through
-for patients with limited coping abilities acute stress can be detrimental (push them over the edge)
Chronic Stress can cause….
- health problems due to being in a constant state of “Fight or Flight”
- decreased immune system = more intense symptoms of illnesses like herpes zoster and influenza
What is a common cause of chronic stress?
-Chronic Illness, long term health problems (i.e. kidney failure/dialysis, drug abuse, eating disorders)
What is PTSD?
Post Traumatic Stress Disorder
-Chronic activation of the stress response as a result of experiencing a potentially life-threatening event
What are some causes of PTSD?
- War is a significant cause
- Rape
- Weather
- Terrorist Attack
- Being Held Hostage
What are the 3 components of PTSD?
Intrusion
Avoidance
Hyperarousal
Describe the Intrusion component of PTSD.
- penetration in to conscious of thoughts, feelings, nightmares
- occurrence of “Flashbacks” during waking hours or nightmares in which the past traumatic event is relived, often in vivid and frightening detail
Describe the Avoidance component of PTSD.
- refers to the emotional numbing that accompanies this disorder and disrupts important personal relationships
- depression/survivor guilt can lead to this behavioral inhibition
Describe the Hyperarousal component of PTSD.
-refers to the presence of increased irritability, difficulty concentrating, and exaggerated startle reflex, and increased vigilance and concern over safety
What else is commonly seen in PTSD patients?
memory problems
sleep disturbances
excessive anxiety
How is PTSD diagnosed?
the triad of symptoms of intrusion, avoidance, and Hyperarousal that characterize PTSD must be present together for at least 1 month and the disorder must have caused clinically significant distress or impairment in social, occupational, and other areas of functioning
What are some Nonpharmacologic methods used for stress reduction?
Relaxation Techniques (meditation)
Guided Imagery (scene visualization)
Music Therapy (shown to help in reducing pain, anxiety or stress)
Massage Therapy(promotes relaxation and relief of muscle tension)
Biofeedback ( individuals are given feedback through electromyography studies and can then adjust response… i.e. focusing on controlling breathing rate and slowing the heart rate )
For any of the Nonpharmacologic methods of treatment of stress disorders to work where must they be given?
in a quiet and therapeutic room
