Stress&Disease Flashcards by Julie T

– Sources of vulnerability
• Genetics, appraisals, attributions, negative outlook, rumination, “kindling” by major life stress, type of stressor
(chronic stress, chronic illness)

depression

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phobias, panic attacks, OCD

anxiety

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• Sympathetic-adrenomedullary system
• Cannon’s “Fight-or-Flight” Response
• Sympathetic arousal stimulates
– medulla of the adrenal glands to secrete
catecholamines
(epinephrine and norepinephrine)
• Effects: blood pressure and heart rate increase,
constriction of peripheral blood vessels,
increased sweating

physiology of stress - SAM

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• Selye’s General Adaptation Syndrome
• Hypothalamus releases
– Corticotrophin-releasing factor (CRF), stimulating pituitary to release ACTH (adrenocorticotropic hormone)
• ACTH stimulates the adrenal cortex to release
glucocorticoids, especially cortisol

Physiology of Stress - HPA Axis

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• The surveillance system of the body:
Primary function
– Distinguish between what is “self” and what is foreign
– Attack and rid the body of foreign invaders
• Distinction between
– Innate Immunity (nonspecific immunity)
– Adaptive Immunity (specific immunity)

immune system

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– Direct Transmission (e.g., genital herpes)
– Indirect Transmission (e.g., airborne influenza)
– Biological Transmission (e.g., mosquito & yellow
fever)
– Mechanical Transmission (e.g., hepatitis A; carrier)

invasion of microbe and their growth in the body 4 WAYS OF INFECTION:

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Microbe must enter body
Number of organisms
Virulence of organisms
Toxigenicity of organisms

What Determines Infection?

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• Incubation period
• Period of nonspecific symptoms
• Acute phase (disease is at its height)
– Fatality ORPeriod of decline during which invading organisms
are expelled
• Can have infection without symptom

course of infection (immune sys)

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– Localized
– Focal
– Systemic 
• Primary infections may lead to secondary 
infections

• Infections may be

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• Body’s resistance to injury from invading 
organisms
– Develops naturally or artificially
• Temporary natural immunity
– when breast fed
• Natural immunity 
– acquired through disease.
• Artificial immunity
– acquired through vaccinations/inoculations

immunity

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– Drainage system of the body

– Spleen, tonsils, thymus gland are important organs

Lymphatic system’s role in immunity

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– Absorb/remove/destroy foreign substances
(immune cells)
– Made up of granulocutes & agranulocytes
(including lymphocytes)

White blood cells (WBCs) or Leukocytes

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– Contain hemoglobin

red blood cells (RBCs)

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Clump together to block holes in vessels

– Important role in clotting

platelets

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leukemia, leukopenia, and leukocytosis

Disorders Related to White Cell

Production

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– Cancer of the bone marrow

– Excessive WBCs → ↓RBCs in plasma → anemia

leukemia

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– Deficiency of WBCs

– Result of diseases such as tuberculosis, measles, & viral pneumonia

leukopenia

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– Excessive number of WBCs

– Response to infections like leukemia, appendicitis, mononucleosis

leukocytosis

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humoral mediated immunity, protect against bacteria, and prevent viral re-infection

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B cells

cell-mediated immunity, Tc cells respond to specific antigens, Th cells enhance the functioning of other white blood cells, Ts cells regulate teh immune response and supress

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T cells

– E.g., tonsillitis, infectious mononucleosis, lymphoma,
splenomegaly
• At one time thought to be acute problems ending
when their course had run
– Control thru hygiene may increase allergic disorders
– May trigger development of chronic disorders
• Ulcers, multiple sclerosis, Alzheimer’s, chronic fatigue syndrome

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Infectious Disorders

– Rheumatoid arthritid, MS, cancer, athlersclerosis, asthma

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chronic inflammation

– a specific humoral or cell-mediated immune response that attacks the body’s own tissues.
– Women more likely to be affected
-ex. certain forms of arthiritis, multiple sclerosis, lupus erythematosis
• Viral or bacterial infection often precedes onset
• Stress may aggravate

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Autoimmune disorders

• Multidisciplinary field
• Focuses on interactions among
– Behavior
– Nervous system
– Endocrine system
– Immune system
• First studies focused on generalization and
classical conditioning of the immune system
– Artificial flowers; cyclosporine & saccharine

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Psychoneuroimmunology

– The degree to which the immune system functions effectively

Immunocompetence

1. Measuring numbers of different cells in the immune system by looking at blood samples • Example: Counting T, B, NK cells in the blood 2. Assessing the functioning of immune cells • Activation, proliferation, transformation, and cytotoxicity of cells 3. Measure antibody titres • Reactivation of latent viruses & vaccination

general indicators of immunocompetence

– Indicators suggest that immune functioning • Has been disrupted • Has been reduced • Immunocompromise relates to health outcomes – Those under stress have lower levels of antibody titres after vaccination – Psychological stress interferes with • Healing of wounds(prolonged)

Immunocompromise

``` Sudden stress – changes in immune system take place quickly • To repair wounds • To prevent infections • Fight-or-flight reactions ```

evolution stressor

– Being called on in class • Produces the increases in natural killer cells and large granular lymphocytes (innate immunity) • Decreases some measures of adaptive (specific) immunity

(short-term stressor)

• Acute effects of increasing immune cell numbers and NK | cell activity

SNS

* Reduces the number of WBCs * Reduces functioning and release of cytokines * Trigger apoptosis of WBCs

• HPA & cortisol release

• Down regulates immune system possibly through | neuropeptides like beta-endorphins

Cerebral cortex

• Physiological changes in response to stress – Usually don’t serve original purpose: short term mobilization to fight or flee • Excessive discharge of hormones causes health problems – Example: prolonged cortisol secretion is related to destruction of neurons in the hippocampus • Long term stress – Health consequences of HPA activation may be more significant than those of SAM activation

Physiology – Long Term Effects

``` • Decreases in cell-mediated immunity • Elevated cortisol levels • Lowered heart rate variability • Elevated epinephrine levels • High waist-to-hip ratio • Decreased hippocampal volume • Memory problems (associated with hippocampus) • Elevated plasma fibrinogen (made by liver & helps clotting) • Elevated blood pressure ```

Examples of Long Term Effects

``` • People differ in reactivity • Reactivity – Degree of change in • Autonomic,Neuroendocrine,Immune responses – As a result of stress • Reactivity to stress can affect vulnerability to illness • Length of recovery also important ```

Physiology – Individual Differences

– Body’s physiological systems fluctuate to meet stressful | demands

Allostasis

– Physiological costs of chronic exposure to fluctuating neural/neuroendocrine responses from repeated/chronic stress • This wear and tear can lead to illness

Allostatic load

– If a person has a pre-existing vulnerability (physical or psychological), then stress may interact with it to cause illness

Diathesis-stress model

– Hamsters had inherited heart diseases – Stress early in the disease process: no heart failure – Stress later in the disease process: precipitated heart failure

Tapp and Natelson Study of Hamsters

– Increased vulnerability to infectious diseases such as colds, flus, herpes virus infections like cold sores & genital herpes, chicken pox (Varicella-Zoster virus), mononucleosis (Epstein-Barr virus) – Among those already ill, stress predicts more severe illness and more cytokines – Reactivation of latent viruses – Onset and course of chronic diseases such as CHD, diabetes, arthritis, autoimmune diseases – Anticipatory stress

Stress-induced immunosuppression has been | associated with:

– Bereavement (especially those who have become depressed) – Loneliness – Martial disruption and conflict (including short-term conflicts) – Providing care for a friend or family member with a long-term illness

psychoneuroimmun:stress and interpersonal relationships=Adverse changes in immunity are associated with

– Lower levels of saliva IgA – Lower percentages of B cells, total T cells, and TH cells – Lower levels of natural killer cells – High antibody titres to several viruses

Three Mile Island nuclear accident [longtermstress]

• Social support buffers the effects of stress • Optimism and active coping strategies are protective • Finding benefit&personal growth are associated with better immune system functioning • Self-Efficacy/Personal Control are associated with less immunocompromise under stress

coping resources

- may reduce experience of stress itself - may reduce tendency to develop depression - may create some expectancy based central nervous sys modulation of immunologic reactivity

self efficacy and personal control

• Emotional disclosure – Enhances health and mood in people who have suffered a traumatic event – Results may be immunologically mediated • Relaxation may mute effects of stress – Research with elderly shows higher NK cell activity after relaxation intervention

interventions to enhance immunocompetence

The developing immune system may be | vulnerable to

– Stress – Depression – Grief

Stress&Disease Flashcards

(46 cards)