Prolonged stress and unhealthy behavior contribute to the four leading causes of death The process by which we perceive and respond to environmental threats or challenges stressors Both increase heart rate threats are more dangerous chronic increases more disease Types of Stressors 1 Catastrophes unpredictable large scale events Ex hurricanes war Result in increases in depression anxiety sleeping problems etc 3 Significant Life Changes Loss of social support or social role Lehman et al 1987 Interviewed people who lost spouse suddenly 4 7 years after and those who have not control Results More depression lower psychological well being more worrying less reactive to positive events in loss group Stress Challenge cid 127 Motivation to conquer Threat cid 127 Overwhelmed Psychological Reactions Primary appraisal stressful or not Secondary appraisal can I handle it Threat no Challenge yes cid 127 Morality rates 5 years after accident Lost spouse 6 died Lost child 7 died Control no loss 0 5 Daily Hassles Ex busy schedule fight with friend car problems long lines annoying cell phone talkers General Adaptation Syndrome Selye 1956 a pattern of physiological response functional in short run College student reports of daily hassles correlated with health problems r 45 if stress keeps up a long time it s dysfunctional we re biologically ready for acute stress but not for prolonged chronic stress Stage 1 Alarm Reaction Adrenal cortex which releases corticoid hormones often called stress hormones is enlarged Lymph nodes which distribute white blood cells are enlarged cid 127 Wide variety of hormone levels increase a readiness state yellow alert Epinephrine adrenalin is released contributes to feeling aroused neg affect Heightened sensitivity to changes in the levels of stressors Takes the form of irritability Heightened susceptibility to illness Stage 2 REsistance Adrenal cortex gets tired and begins to atrophy shrink Lymph nodes return to normal size Physiological arousal remains high sympathetic NS Parasympathetic NS begins to step in and slow things down a bit cid 127 More pronounced irritability Stage 3 Exhaustion Lymph nodes become enlarged again and begin to dysfunction messing up the function of the white blood cells cid 127 cid 127 cid 127 cid 127 cid 127 cid 127 cid 127 cid 127 cid 127 cid 127 cid 127 cid 127 cid 127 cid 127 cid 127 cid 127 cid 127 cid 127 cid 127 cid 127 cid 127 cid 127 cid 127 cid 127 cid 127 cid 127 cid 127 cid 127 cid 127 cid 127 cid 127 cid 127 cid 127 cid 127 cid 127 cid 127 cid 127 cid 127 cid 127 cid 127 cid 127 cid 127 cid 127 cid 127 cid 127 Many hormone levels remain high Some hormones ex epinephrine become depleted lowering activity levels Ability to resist other stressors is diminished cid 127 Often the organism experiences depression Stress Indirect effects on health behavior Less preventive behavior Delay avoidance in seeking medical care Indirect effects on fitness Increased smoking drinking Eating badly Less sleep Less exercise Direct physiological effects Increased fat in body cells Higher blood pressure cid 127 Weakened immune system Variety of Stress Related Health Problems cid 127 Migraines and headaches Ulcers Astma Arthritis Colitis inflammation of the large intestine Hypertension Coping Problem focused Emotion focused Active attempts to alter stressful situation Attempts to reduce distress produced by the situation 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 cid 127 cid 127 cid 127 cid 127 cid 127 cid 127 cid 127 cid 127 cid 127 cid 127 cid 127 cid 127 cid 127 cid 127 cid 127 cid 127 cid 127 cid 127 cid 127 cid 127 cid 127 cid 127
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