Effects of Stress on Physiology
The physiological consequences of stress and its effects on health have been studied extensively. Research indicates that stress causes physiological changes that have implications for promoting the onset of sickness and its progression. Effects of Stress
WHAT ARE A PLACEBO, WHAT DEFINITION, AND WHAT EFFECTS
Effects of Stress
Stress and illness onset and progression
Stress causes changes in both sympathetic activation (e.g. heart rate, sweating, blood pressure) via the production of catecholamines and the hypothalamus-pituitary adrenocortical activation via the production of cortisol. These changes can directly impact health and illness onset. Effects of Stress
1. Sympathetic activation:
The prolonged production of adrenalin and noradrenalin can result in:
- Blood clot formation;
- Increased blood pressure;
- Increased heart rate;
- Irregular heartbeats;
- Fat deposits;
- Plaque formation; and
- Immunosuppression.
These changes might increase the possibilities of cardiovascular disease, and kidney disease and leave the body exposed to infection. Effects of Stress
Stress And Changes In Behavior
2. HPA activation:
The prolonged production of cortisol can result in:
- Decreased immune function; and
- Damage to neurons in the hippocampus.
These changes might increase the probabilities of infection, psychiatric issues, and losses in memory and concentration.
These physiological changes may be understood in terms of Johnston’s chronic and acute model of the strain sickness link (Johnston 2002). Chronic stress is more likely to involve HPA activation and the release of cortisol. These consequences ongoing wear and tear and also the slower method of hardening of the arteries and injury to the circulatory system. Acute stress operates primarily through changes in sympathetic activation with changes in pulse and pressure. This will contribute to the hardening of the arteries and kidney disease however is additionally associated with unexpected changes like heart attacks. Effects of Stress
Interaction Between the Behavioral and Physiological Pathways
Stress can, therefore, influence health and illness by changing behavior or by directly impacting an individual’s physiology. So far the behavioral and physiological pathways have been presented as separate and discrete. However, this is very much an oversimplification.
Stress may cause changes in behaviors such as smoking and diet which impact health by changing the individual’s physiology. Likewise, stress may cause physiological changes such as raised blood pressure but this is often most apparent in those that also exhibit particularly unhealthy behaviors (Johnston 1989). Therefore, in reality, stress is linked to illness via a complex interaction between behavioral and physiological factors. Further, Johnston (1989) argued that these factors are multiplicative, indicating that the more factors that are changed by stress the greater the chance that stress will lead to illness.
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