Stress and Health

Question 1

what is acute stress?

Answer 1

temporary or short term stress
ex: an upcoming exam

Question 2

what is chronic stress?

Answer 2

prolong or ongoing feeling of stress for for weeks or months
ex: worrying about meeting basic needs

Question 3

what type of stress is most harmful?

Answer 3

chronic exposure to everyday hardships (even at low levels) is more damaging to health than acute stressors (at higher levels)

Question 4

what is stress?

Answer 4

refers to the uncomfortable experiences people have when they face challenging or threatening events that they feel strain their resources for coping

Question 5

what is a stressor?

Answer 5

refers to the challenging events or conditonss that produce the experience of stress

Question 6

what is the stress response?

Answer 6

the behavioural and physiological processes provoked by a stressor

Question 7

what is resilience?

Answer 7

the ability to achieve “a positive outcome in the face of adversity”

Question 8

what is “good” stress?

Answer 8

• “good” stress occurs when an individual faces and overcomes a challenge
• has positive health effects by fostering growth, adaptation. learning and resilience for future hardships

Question 9

what is “toxic” stress?

Answer 9

• “toxic” stress occurs when there is strong, frequent, and/or prolonged activation of the body’s stress response system without buffering protection or support systems

Question 10

what is allostasis?

Answer 10

the process by which the body responds to stressors in order to regain homeostasis

Question 11

how is stress associated with health?

Answer 11

• many social determinants of health affect one’s bodies by producing and/or buffering the effects of stress
• stress is an important link between social factors and health outcomes

Question 12

what are the health effects of stress?

Answer 12

• preterm birth
• obesity (metabolic changes or biological programming)
• heart disease
• diabetes
• mental health disorders

Question 13

what is allostatic load?

Answer 13

the physiologicla reflection of the consequences of toxic stress
- it is the cumulative wear and tear on the body caused by the endocrine and neural responses to prolonged or excessive stress

Question 14

what are the different indicators of allostatic load?

Answer 14

• salivary cortisol
• blood pressure
• heart rate
• LDL and HDL
• c-reactive proteins
• blood sugar (hemoglobin A1C)
• waist to hip ratio

Question 15

how does chronic stress early in life affect health outcomes?

Answer 15

• chronic stress early in life can result in long-term damage to multiple body organs and systems
• chronic stress interferes with one’s ability to respond to stress cognitively and physiologically = permanently impairing the body’s ability to “turn off” the stress response in circumstances its not needed later in life

Question 16

what is the pathway of stress in the body?

Answer 16

the brain is the LINk between stress and health
- the experience of stress begins when the brain registers the occurence of a stressor
- the hypothalamus releases corticotropin-releasing hormone which releases the enterior pituatiary gland to release adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH)
- ACTH acts on the adrenal gladns to stimulate the release of glucocorticodis, including cortisol
–> adequate levels of cortisol are needed for healthy functioining of bodily ststems
–> however, when cortisol is secreted at excessive levels and for prolonged periods of tine in response to stress, cortisol can affect multiple organs and systems

Question 17

what are the two main health outcomes due to stress?

Answer 17

• inflammation
• immune system dysregulation

Question 18

why does biology and context matter with stress?

Answer 18

• two individuals faced with the exact stressor may react very differently
• although genetic predisposition and other biological factors can play a role, evidence says that some people are more vulnerable to the health effects of stress
• this is due to nature, severity, frequency, duration of the stressor they encounter and the resources available to respond
• individuals may not have sufficient supports to reduce health-damaging effects of stress

Question 19

how does stress trigger epigenetic effects?

Answer 19

• epigenetic (gene-environment interactions) are thought to play a role in the health effects of stress
• epigenetic don’t alter the DNA, they are “on/off” switches that control where one’s DNA is expressed or suppressed
  –> for example, a disease may only occur if chronic stress causes a gene to “turn on”

Question 20

why might people in high-status jobs handle stress better than those in low-status jobs?

Answer 20

• it could be argued that those at the top of the SES ladder face more stress (ex: more pressure to perform well or important decision making) while those at the bottom of SES ladder face less stress
• however, researchers believe the type of stress matters!
• the chronic faced by high-status workers may not result in the same wear and tear on the body as compared to low status workers
  –> people in high-status jobs typically have more control over thier work and how they accomplish it
  –> high SES individuals have access to more resources to help cope

Question 21

what is the relationship between allostatic load and income?

Answer 21

allostatic load (stress) increases with decreasing levels of income and education

Question 22

how does financial hardship during childhood contribute to chronic stress?

Answer 22

chronic stress due to financial hardship is damaging to health, particularly when experienced during childhood
- children in low-income families are exposed to more physical stressors (ex: substandard housing, overcrowding) and psychosocial stressors (ex: family turmoil, community violence)
- low-levels of family income and educational attainment correspond with higher rates of adverse life events or chronic stress
- adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) such as abuse, domestic abuse and family disruption are extremely stressful = illness

Question 23

how does racism contribute to stress? examples?

Answer 23

stress resulting from the direct and indirect effects of racism is a major contributor to disparities in health
- overt interpersonal discrimination
- structural/systemic racism embedded in stituitiosn
- racial residential segregation
- fear of being perceived or treated unfairly

Question 24

why is stress more pronounced in highly educated and affluent people?

Answer 24

studies have found that racial disparities in health are more pronounced in highly educated, more affluent people than their counterparts of low SES
- it is believed that people of colour and higher status have had to overcome discrimination in order to reach their current level of SES status
- also believed that they’re more likely ot be the minority in their workplace and have been exposed to increased amount of discrimination

Question 25

what are some actions to address stress-related health disparities?

Question 26

what are the current interventions in place to address stress-related health disparities?

Answer 26

- current interventions focus on downstream determinants and NOT upstream - the healthcare sector has attempted to buffer the harmful effects of stress rather than addressing the root cause - they have attempted to remove financial, cultural, geographical barriers to social support interventions

Question 27

what is the association between stress and asthma?

Answer 27

- chronic stress increases susceptibility for pollution-related lung damage and asthma - cumulative stress (poverty, school, peer pressure) negatively impact asthma outcomes for urban adolescents

Question 28

how does chronic stress lead to asthma?

Answer 28

- asthma is chronic inflammatory disease of the airways causing them to narrow - during a stressful situation, the body activates a stress response system and release cortisol - prolonged stress leads to persistently high cortisol levels, which can create a state of systemic inflammation (pro-inflammatory response) throughout the body, including in the airway - traffic pollution contains particles that can trigger oxidative stress in the lungs, further contributing to inflammation - when the body is already in a state of chronic inflammation due to prolonged cortisol exposure, the additional inflammation from pollutants can aggravate asthma - this can lead to worsened respiratory function and reduced lung capacity.

Question 29

what is the association between stress and weight?

Answer 29

- chronic stress can significantly contribute to weight gain and increased body weight attainment - stress induces the release of cortisol, which can stimulate appetite, increase cravings for sugary foods, and promote fat storage, especially around the abdomen - stress can also disrupt levels of other hormones involved in hunger and satiety

Question 30

how does parental stress impact weight of their children?

Answer 30

- parental stress has been shown to influence the trajectory of body mass index (BMI) in pre-adolescents. - chronic stress in parents can lead to changes in parenting styles, such as emotional responses, which can affect children's eating habits and physical activity levels. - over time, this can contribute to an increase in BMI, potentially leading to long-term health consequences for the child.

Question 31

how is chronic stress associated with atopic disorders?

Answer 31

- chronic stress is linked to atopic disorders such as eczema and allergic rhinitis. - stress triggers the release of cortisol which disrupts the immune system, causing inflammation and weakening the skin barrier - this makes the body more susceptible to allergens and irritants ultimately, an overactive immune system in response to stress suppresses the body’s ability to properly regulate inflammatory responses

Question 32

what health problems can chronic stress lead to?

Answer 32

- diabetes - heart disease - PTSD - obesity - childhood asthma - depression - long-term drug use

Question 33

what are the health effects of stress?

Answer 33

chronic stress impairs cognitive function and increases vulnerability to illnesses - preterm birth - obesity - heart disease - diabetes - mental health disorders

Question 34

what are the direct effects of stress on health?

Answer 34

direct effects relate to physiological changes in the body - stress causes neuroendocrine and immune system dysregulation, leading to issues such as: 1) dysfunction of the Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Adrenal (HPA) axis, which regulates hormones like cortisol. 2) over-activation of the fight-or-flight response, which keeps the body in a state of heightened arousal.

Question 35

what are the indirect effects of stress on health?

Answer 35

involve stress-related behavioural changes that negatively affect health over time, such as: - poor diet - smoking - physical inactivity

Question 36

what are the social determinants of stress?

Answer 36

1) economic advantage - inadequate access to basic needs (food, housing, healthcare) - childhood financial hardships lead to long-term health risks 2) racism and discrimmination - systemic and interpersonal discrimination increase chronic stress - "weathering hypothesis" = premature aging due to racial stress 3) work and occupational stress - low control, high demand jobs lead to high allostatic load - socioeconomic gradients show increased stress in lower-income groups

Question 37

what are strategies to reduce stress and health disparities?

Answer 37

1) social support - strong family, community, and workplace support buffers stress 2) public policy interventions - expand social safety nets (ex: unemployment benefits, child care support) - improve access to education and job opportunities - address systemic racism and discrimination 3) healthcare system approaches - stress management programs (counselling, mindfulness, resilience training) - medical-legal partnerships = providing legal aid for social determinant