The Role of Stress in Illness

Question 1

Immunosupression

Answer 1

The suppression of our immune system after undergoing long periods of stress
Makes the immune system vulnerable to disease

Question 2

Long term stress response

Answer 2

Chronic stressor Eg; work, relationships
Cortisol appears to be detrimental to our immune system

Question 3

Thymus shrinking

Answer 3

Prolonged stress can cause a decrease in white blood cells
Therefore, the thymus shrinks due to its role being the production of white blood cells

Question 4

White blood cells

Answer 4

Destroy disease- fight of microorganisms
Recognise foreign cells and destroys them

Question 5

B-Cells

Answer 5

Cells produced in the bone marrow which create anti-bodies for isolating and destroying bacteria
They are released into the bodies fluid

Question 6

T-Cells

Answer 6

Cells created in the thymus which produce substances that attack infected cells
Lock onto infected cells, multiply and destroy them

Question 7

Keircolt Glaser (1995)

Answer 7

Natural experiment
26 ps
Group 1: 13 women aged 47-81 who looked after near relatives with Alzheimer’s
Group 2: Control of 13 women who were matched with group 1 based on age and income

Small wounds made on each ps arm and a 10 item stress scale to rate their stress
Then added hydrogen peroxide tot he wounds= no foam meant it had healed

G1= healed less which indicated higher levels of stress

Question 8

Cardiovascular disease

Answer 8

Disease of the heart and blood vessels
Arteries harden and weaken which results them in being unable to do their job
Adrenaline attaches to the heart and makes it work harder
Muscles overload= leads to coronary heart disease

Question 9

What can acute and chronic stress lead to?

Answer 9

High blood pressure
Cardiovascular diease
Strokes