Chapter 15 Stress and Health 1 Stress a nonspecific response to real or imagined challenges or threats a Acute stress stress that is caused by adaptive changes short term stress b Chronic stress stress that is caused by maladaptive changes long term stress not able to adjust to the differences that are being experienced 2 Sources of stress disasters a Catastrophes cataclysmic events natural and human caused i Closer you are to the situation the more stress you will feel ii Post traumatic stress disorder severe and prolonged response to trauma b Unhealthy environments life events i Poverty often creates environmental stressors 1 Modern city life crowding pollution noise commuting 2 Combination more stressful than each individual factor a Urban press all these factors c Discrimination life events more perceived discrimination more mental health problems Immigration i Race ethnicity ii iii Sex gender roles iv Sexual orientation d Personal factors life events i Work related stress low level jobs tend to be more stressful but high level jobs can be stressful too 1 Burnout emotional and physical exhaustion a Physician ii Unemployment iii Personal relationships supportive relationships reduce stress 1 Balancing work and family iv Marriage can bring many stressors 1 Adjustment to marriage 2 Conflict 3 Unfulfilled expectations v Lack of time deadlines vi Other stressors for children 1 School 2 Bullies 3 Lack of control 3 Responses to stress a The physiology of stress i The arousal of the autonomic nervous system Increased heart rate 1 2 Shallow and faster breathing 3 Higher blood pressure 4 Swearing palms 5 Pupil dilation 4 Health a Heart disease i 1 killer for adults in the United States ii Lifestyle and behavior are important in the development of iii Stress increases risk for cardiovascular disease iv Type A behavior competitive impatient hostile time heart disease pressured 1 Anger triggers the same physiological response as stress hostility and anger v Type B behavior calm patient laidback less hurried b Infectious disease i Stress affects the immune system ii Psychoneuroimmunology study of behavioral neurological and immune factors as they relate to disease c Stress and Health Related Behaviors i Behaviors used to cope with stress can have negative health effects 1 Smoking 2 Drinking alcohol 3 Overeating 4 Poor nutrition ii Five crucial healthy behaviors 1 Those with 2 or fewer behaviors are 3 times more likely to get sick or die early than those with all 5 2 7 8 hours of sleep daily 3 Moderate alcohol consumption if any 4 No smoking 5 Regular exercise 6 Ideal weight iii Environmental factors often make unhealthy choices easier than healthy choices iv Psychological factors ways of thinking 1 Optimistic bias one thinks he or she will get a less negative effect than other people 5 Health psychology health a Subfield of psychology that uses psychological principles to enhance i Disease prevention ii Health promotion positive focus
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