Stress Related Illness And The Immune System

Question 1

Psychological symptoms of stress

Answer 1

Emotional: Feelings of fear, tension, anxiety, irritability
Cognitive: poor concentration, poor memory, negative thoughts
Behavioural: We may act more aggressively when we are stressed (fight), or we may withdraw and avoid problems (flight)

Question 2

Physiological symptoms of stress

Answer 2

Heart rate increase
Blood pressure increase
Reduced digestion
Sweating
Release of adrenaline or nordarenaline

Question 3

Pituitary adrenal system

Answer 3

THREAT DETECTED»HYPOTHALAMUS»PA system»Pituitary Gland»ACTH released to bloodstream&raquo_space;Adrenal Cortex»Cortisol released to bloodstream»cortisol released» Liver releases stored energy as glucose, immune system suppressed

Question 4

Sympatho-Adrenal Medulla pathway

Answer 4

THREAT DETECTED»HYPOTHALAMUS»SAM Pathway»Adrenal Medulla»Adrenaline and Noradrenaline released to bloodstream» increased heart rate, increased blood pressure, pupils dilate

Question 5

Parasympathetic Nervous System

Answer 5

Once the threat has gone, the parasympathetic nervous system works to restore the body back to its normal state.

Question 6

How does stress affect the immune system

Answer 6

Shrink the thymus gland, reducing killer T cells produces
Balance of the immune system is disrupted and may suppress the functionality
Eczema and other skin conditions may worsen
Unhealthy diet, such as over or under eating
Cancer risk increases

Question 7

Kiecolt-Glazer (Med Students)

Answer 7

Investigated the effect of stress on immune function on 75 med students by taking blood samples one month before and on the day of their first exam and counted the natural killer cell activity.
The natural killer cell activity decreased by the first exam.

Question 8

Riley

Answer 8

Investigated the effects of stress on immune function by putting mice on a rotating plate for 5 hours to induce stress, a control group did not rotate. The lymphocyte levels were counted in each group.
The lymphocyte count was significantly lower in the spinning group than the control.
In a layer study a cancer cell was implanted into a group of mice and they were rotated for 10mins per 1hr for 3 days.
There were larger tumours after the 3 days in the mice that were rotated.

Question 9

Riley evaluation

Answer 9

:) True experiment so we can look at cause and effect
:) Objective measures
:( Ethical issues
:( Cannot be generalised to humans

Question 10

Kiecolt-Glazer (married couples)

Answer 10

Investigated the effect of stress on immune function by putting a blister wound on 42 married couples before a conflicted discussion and a supportive discussion.
They found that the wounds took longer to heal after a conflicted discussion

Question 11

Married Couple study evaluation

Answer 11

:) Objective Measures
:) High control - blister wound the same size for each condition
:( Raises ethical issues