Stress & Disease - CH. 21

An individual’s physiologic and psychologic processes and environment

Require a degree of adaptation

Came up with the idea of General Adaptation Syndrome

Internal or external stressors can result in: -Adrenal gland enlargement -Immune alterations (reduced lymphocytes from damaged lymphatic structures) -GI manifestations (bleeding ulcers)

A state of balance

Suppresses the immune response

Acute threats and is normally time limited.

Considered to enhance immunity

Suppresses immunity

Process by which the body responds to stressors in order to regain homeostasis - stability through change

When there is a chronic overactivation of adaptive responses that may in turn increase susceptibility to disease.

Effect is a general systemic reaction

Response was in reaction to a stressor

Physical manifestations are coordinated and dependent on each other.

Sleep alteration and associated damaging effects of elevated evening cortisol, insulin, and glucose.

• Alarm stage (fight or flight) • Stage of resistance/adaptation • Allostatic overload or exhaustion

SNS -> HPA Axis -> release of catecholamines & cortisol

Necessary to conserve energy that is needed to fend off the stressor

ADH is increased to retain fluid, thereby maintaining the BP needed to perfuse vital tissues.

Humoral response boosted initially to thwart infection and disease, but with rising cortisol levels the immune response becomes inhibited.

Individual attempts to compensate for changes induced by the alarm stage in response to sustained challenge

The resistance stage where cortisol decreases through negative feedback

Increase metabolism by breaking down proteins, releasing lipids, and increasing circulating glucose

Leads to exhaustion of inflammatory and immune responses, excessive loss of body proteins and breakdown of tissues, and glucose intolerance