physiological stress and response
TRANSCRIPT
PHYSIOLOGICAL STRESS AND RESPONSE
STRESS
What is stress?
Pressures, demands (stressors),
exert force on the body, stress isthe body’s response to this.A stress response is an innate,defensive and adaptive reactionStress levels also depend onwhether the person feels that theycan cope with demands placed onthem or not
Stressors A stressor is a___physicalchemicalbiological agentenvironmental conditionevent
causes stress to an organism or
disturbances the homeostatsis
Homeostasis
The process of maintaining a reasonable constant internal environment in the body
•
Temperature maintanance of body
• 37ºC or 98.6 F
Acute vs. Chronic Stress• Acute stress
• Sudden, typically short-lived, threatening event (e.g., robbery, giving a speech)
• Chronic stress• Ongoing environmental demand (e.g., marital conflict, work stress,
personality)
PHYSIOLOGICAL SYSTEMS INVOLVED IN THE STRESS RESPONSE
The nervous system The endocrine system The immune system
Nervous system
Peripheral nervous system (PNS)Consists of all neural pathways to the extremitiesTriggered through the stimulation of sensory nervesTriggers a series of involuntary chemical response throughout the
body
Central nervous system (CNS)Brain and spinal cord
The Endocrine SystemThe endocrine system is a network of four components:GlandsHormonesCirculationTarget organs
Immune systemT-cells found in the form of T-helper and T-suppressor
A decade of brain research•Repeated exposure to cortisol increases aging process of brain •Repeated exposure to cortisol damages/ shrinks brain tissue •Damage due to repeated exposure to cortisol appears to be irreversible •We are “wired for stress” for physical threats yet all threats set the alarm
How does stress cause physical illness?
DIRECTLY INDIRECTLY
SUPPRESSING THE IMMUNE SYSTEM
Leucocytes (white blood cells)
Lymphocytes (B Cells or T Cells)
Anti bodies
Natural killer cells
Endorphins
CARDIOVASCULAR DISORDERS
Hypertension
Strokes
Changes in health practices that will increase risk of illness
Smoking
Drinking
Drugs
Sleeplessness
Exercise less
Biopsychosocial Aspect of Stress
• How stress affects health
• Via behavior• Via physiology
Physiological Aspects• Cardiovascular reactivity – increased blood pressure,
platelets, lipids (cholesterol)• Endocrine reactivity – increased catecholamines and
corticosteroids• Immune reactivity – increased hormones impairs immune
function
Behavioural Aspects• Increased alcohol• Smoking• Increased caffeine• Poor diet• Inattention leading to carelessness
Psychophysiological Disorders• Digestive system – e.g., ulcers, irritable bowel syndrome• Respiratory system – e.g., asthma• Cardiovascular system – e.g., hypertension, lipid
disorders, heart attack, angina
How to survive?
1) Remove the STRESSOR!
2) EFFECTIVELY Cope with the STRESSOR!
Thanks