Stress

Stress Symptoms:

Physiological side of stress—

Psychological side of stress—

Some potential pathological consequences of chronic stress:

Gastrointestinal system—

Cardiovascular system—

Energy metabolism—

Immune system—

Reproductive system—

Bone density—

Skeletal muscles—

General growth—

Psychological function—

Cognition—

Unit questions:

What is the role of hormones in the stress-response?

What controls the release of these hormones?

What effects do these hormones have on target tissues?

Why are we designed in such a way that we would need these hormonal effects?

Do these hormones have maladaptive effects?

Terminology

stressor:

stress response:

stress:

Note: this terminology is “circular”

Historical consideration of "stress":

Claude Bernard, 1800's, physiologist

internal milieu —

Walter Cannon, late 1800's, early 1900's, physiologist/psychologist

"homeostasis" —

According to many researchers: stress can be conceived of as anything that is a threat to homeostasis

Does this definition work well for all stressors?

Stress researchers often divide stressors up into categories, with the main 2 categories being—

1] physical stressors:

2] psychological stressors:

Mission: someone should come up with a better definition of stress as it applies to psychological stressors

There are 2 main stress response systems:

Both have important hormonal components

Response System	Historical Proponent	Function	Effector Hormone	Speed of Onset & Duration of Action
Sympathetic Nervous System (SNS)
Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Adrenal (HPA) Axis