week 1- stress

Question 1

stress

Answer 1

• an individualized reaction or response to a stimulus, when real or perceived demands exceed their available coping resources
• influenced by individual perceptions of illness, coping mechanisms and social support system
• can impact an individual’s ability to heal

Question 2

stressor

Answer 2

any demand, situation, internal stimulus or circumstance which endangers a person’s well-being or integrity

Question 3

eustress

Answer 3

mild but motivating and protective form of stress

hans selye

Question 4

distress

Answer 4

negative response to stress that occurs when the demands made exceed a person’s coping ability

Question 5

allostasis

Answer 5

process of achieving homeostasis in the presence of a challenge (set points are modified)

Question 6

adaptive responses

Answer 6

based on the duration and intensity of that stimulus

Question 7

general adaptation syndrome

Answer 7

• includes three successive stages of physiological responses
• alarm, resistance and exhaustion phases
• highlights the physiological and psychological impacts of prolonged or intense stress

Question 8

alarm phase

Answer 8

• stimulates the CNS and mobilizes bodily defences in a fight-or-flight response to the acute stressor
• leads to increases in bp, HR, respiratory rate, muscle tension, brain activity; pupil dilation; and decreased skin temperature
• temporarily decreases resistance to stressors

Question 9

resistance phase

Answer 9

• occurs as body attempts to adapt to the stressor
• immune system attempts to help the body adapt to the stressor, physiological reserves are mobilized to increase the resistance to stress and so that adaptation may occur
• few signs and symptoms compared to alarm phase
• energy is expended to cope

Question 10

resistance depends on…

Answer 10

physical functioning, coping abilities and total number/intensity of stressors

Question 11

exhuastion phase

Answer 11

• occurs when all energy for adaptation has been expended
• physical symptoms of alarm phase may briefly reappear in the body’s last attempt to survive

Question 12

transaction theory of stress

Answer 12

focuses on person-environment interactions, as well as cognitive appraisal of stress

Question 13

cognitive appraisal

Answer 13

a judgement or evaluative process whereby the individual recognizes the degree of stress and its effect on well-being

Question 14

primary appraisal

Answer 14

determining whether the stress poses a threat

Question 15

secondary appraisal

Answer 15

individual’s evaluation of coping strategies or resources to manage any perceived threat

Question 16

responses to stress

Answer 16

influences by physiological (neuroendocrine/immune system), socioenvironmental (low income, unemployment, coping skills) and individual influences (resilience, attitude)

Question 17

resilience

Answer 17

resourceful, flexible and problem-solving strategies

Question 18

attitude

Answer 18

positive emotional attitude can prevent disease and prolong life

Question 19

cerebral cortex

Answer 19

evaluates the stressor with reference to past experiences and future consequences

Question 20

limbic system

Answer 20

mediates life-saving emotions and behaviours

Question 21

reticular formation

Answer 21

• contains the reticular activating system to send alertness impulses to limbic system
• stress increases frequency of alertness impulses leading to wakefulness and sleep disturbances

Question 22

hypothalmus

Answer 22

• connects nervous and endocrine systems
• regulates the functions of sympathetic and parasympathetic branches of the autonomic nervous system
• SNS activation signals epinephrine/NE release, which initiates the fight or flight response
• the body also reacts to epinephrine/NE release, known as the sympathoadrenal response

Question 23

HPA axis

hypothalmic-pituitary-adrenal axis

Answer 23

1. stressors lead to the release of corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH) from the hypothalamus
2. CRH stimulates the anterior pituitary gland to release adrenocorticotropin-releasing hormone (ACTH)
3. ACTH stimulates the adrenal cortex to release cortisol

Question 24

role of cortisol in the body

Answer 24

• increases blood glucose levels
• potentiates catcholamine (NE/E) action on blood vessels
• inhibits the inflammatory response

Question 25

role of corticosteroids in the body

Answer 25

- increase cardiac output, blod glucose levels, oxygen consumption and metabolic rate - blunt aspects of stress response that could be self-destructive/uncontrolled

Question 26

psychoneuroimmunology

Answer 26

interdisciplinary science involving the interactions among psychological, neurological and immune responses

Question 27

immune system regulation

Answer 27

- nerve fibres extend from the NS and synapse on cells and tissues of the immune system - receptors for neuropeptides and hormones permit immune cells to respond to nervous and neuroendocrine signals

Question 28

effect of stress on the immune system

Answer 28

- signals from both the NS/endocrine system inhibit the immune system in times of stress - decreased number and function of natural killer cells - altered lymphocyte proliferation - decreased production of cytokines

Question 29

stress-related illnesses

Answer 29

depression, fatigue, fibromyalgia, headaches, HT, insomnia, IBS and menstrual irregularities

Question 30

effects of stress on health

Answer 30

- can play a role in disease development/progression - leads to poor concentration, impaired DM and memory problems - also leads to withdrawing from others, irritability or substance abuse - excessive activation of the SNS - stress-induced immunosuppression can increase risk of progresison of immune-based diseases (MS, asthma, rheumatoid arthritis)

Question 31

effects of excessive SNS activation

Answer 31

- induces hippocampal damage (LTM and spatial learning impairment) and increases risk of CVD - also causes or worsens migranes, IBS, peptic ulcers and control of metabolic disorders (ie. diabetes)

Question 32

coping

Answer 32

a person’s behavioural efforts to manage specific external or internal stressors that seem to exceed available resources

Question 33

coping resources

Answer 33

internal or external assets, characteristics or actions that a person draws on to manage stress ie. health status, belief system, problem-solving skills, social skills and support, finances

Question 34

emotion-focused coping

Answer 34

- involve managing the emotions that an individual feels when a stressful event occurs - used to alleviate negative emotions and foster a sense of well-being ie. talking about feelings, taking a bath to relax

Question 35

problem-focused coping

Answer 35

- purposeful, active and task-oriented strategies to reduce stress - allows one to look at a challenge objectively and take action to address the problem and reduce stress ie. setting priorities, seeking advice

Question 36

relaxation response

Answer 36

- state of deep physiological and psychological rest - characterized by decreased SNS activity - this decreases heart rate, blood pressure, respiratory rate, muscle tension, brain activity and increases skin temperature

Question 37

relaxation strategies

Answer 37

- relaxation breathing, meditation, music, massage, imagery - regular illicitation can help treat stress-related disorders, chronic pain, insomnia and HT - regular engagement with these strategies leads to better coping, decreased tension and an increased sense of control

Question 38

relaxation breathing