AP Psych- Module 44 stress and illness

Question 0

Psychoneuroimmunology

Answer 0

The study of how psychological, neural, and endocrine processes together affect the immune system and resulting health
Your thoughts and feelings influence your brain

Question 1

Psychophysiological illness

Answer 1

Literally mind body illness; any stress related illness, such as hypertension and some headaches

Question 2

Cells involved in immune response

Answer 2

4 types

Question 3

Lymphocytes

Answer 3

The 2 types of white blood cells that are apart of the body’s immune system

Question 4

B lymphocytes

Answer 4

Form in the bone marrow and release antibodies that fight bacterial infections

Question 5

T lymphocytes

Answer 5

Form in the thymus and other lymphatic tissue and attack cancer cells, viruses, and foreign substances (even good ones like transported organs)

Question 6

Macrophages

Answer 6

Big eater

Identified, pursues, and ingests harmful invaders and worn out cells

Question 7

Natural killer cells (NK cells)

Answer 7

Pursue diseased cells (such as those infected by viruses and cancer)

Question 8

Immune system errors

Answer 8

Your immune system can respond too strongly and attack your body’s own tissues
Ex. Some forms of arthritis or an allergic reaction
Your immune system can under-react
Ex. A dormant herpes virus or cancer cells
Women have stronger immune systems them men but this also makes them more susceptible to life attacking diseases, like lupus and multiple sclerosis

Question 9

The effects of stress on immunity

Answer 9

Stress doesn’t make us sick but it alters our immune functioning, which makes us less able to resist infection
During an aroused flight or fight reaction, your stress responses divert energy from your immune system and send it to your muscles and brain, making you more vulnerable to illness
Examples from studies:
Surgical wounds heal more slowly in stressed people
Stressed people are more vulnerable to colds

Question 10

Stress and cancer

Answer 10

In a healthy body, the immune system, lymphocytes, macrophages, and NK cells search out to destroy cancer cells and cancer-damaged cells
If stress weakens immune system might it also weaken ability to fight off cancer?
Studies have shown support for and against this argument
Stress doesn’t create cancer cells but it may affect their growth by weakening the body’s natural defenses against multiplying malignant cells

Question 11

Type a

Answer 11

Competitive, hard driven, impatient, verbally aggressive, anger prone

Question 12

Type b

Answer 12

Easygoing, relaxed people

Question 13

Stress and heart disease

Answer 13

Friedman and rosenmans study
- 69% of the men that suffered heart attacks were type a
-not one of the pure type b had suffered a heart attack
Type a activate sympathetic nervous system which redistributed blood flow to our muscles, pulling it away from internal organs
One of the organs (liver) then can’t remove cholesterol and fat from the blood
People who react with anger over little things are the most coronary prone

Question 14

More on stress and heart disease

Answer 14

Pessimists were more than twice as likely as optimists to develop heart disease
Optimistic thinking empowers people to seek ways to change stressful situations whereas pessimistic thinking does not provide a way out of stressful circumstances

Question 15

More stress and heart disease

Answer 15

Chronic stress keefe to excessive inflammation which leads to depressive symptoms and cardiac disease, which not contribute to excessive inflammation
stress hormones enhance production of proteins they contribute to inflammation, which heightens immune response
Persistent inflammation can lead to problems like asthma or clogged arteries or worsen depression

Question 16

Consequences of prolonged stress

Answer 16

Automatic nervous system effects (headaches, high blood pressure, inflammation)
Immune suppression
Heart disease

Question 17

How to control your own health

Answer 17

Get 7-8 hours of sleep a night, eat breakfast every day 
Have normal weight 
Don't smoke 
Get regular physical exercise 
Wear seat belts 
Don't drive at excessive speeds
Learn healthy habits and follow them 
Find a doctor with whom you can communicate