Transcript Ch.14 - Stress & Health

Emotions & Stress (Stress)
Stress response system fight or flight
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Walter Cannon
With stress, the body prepares for fight or flight
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Adrenaline & noradrenaline (stress hormones)
Heart rate and respiration increases
Blood diverted from digestion to skeletal muscles
Dulls pain
Releases sugar for energy
Body’s General Adaptation
Syndrome (GAS)
Applies to all stress situations
 Phase #1 = Alarm
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Respiration increases
 Temperature increases
 Heart rate increases
 Blood diverted to skeletal muscles
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General Adaptation Syndrome
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Phase #2 = Resistance
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Hormones (e.g. adrenaline) increase
Phase #3 = Exhaustion
Tiredness, More vulnerable to illness
 Mental breakdown
 Possibly death
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General Adaptation Syndrome
Does control effect your
reaction to stress?
Rats receiving a shock (stress) with no
control developed ulcers
 Rats that could turn off (control) the stress
by turning a wheel did not develop ulcers
 Uncontrolled stress = ulcers
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Control and stress
Does money effect stress?
Wealthy (more control) = longer life
 Poor ( less control) = shorter life
 Be careful about cause and effect
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Wealthy can afford more health care and
better foods
Does optimism effect stress?
Yes
 Optimists perceive more control & cope
better with stress
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Hopelessness
Does a stressful personality
type affect your heart?
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Type “A” Personality
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Hard driving, impatient, time sensitive,
supermotivated, verbally aggressive and
easily angered
• More prone to heart attacks
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Type “B” Personality
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Easy going and relaxed
• Less prone to heart attacks
Does stress cause cancer?
Cancer rates are higher among widowed,
divorced, or separated.
Stress does not create cancer cells
Stress weakens the body’s defenses
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How can you have better health
and cope with stress? (Summary)
Aerobic exercise
Biofeedback
Meditation
Social support
Aerobic exercise
Helps reduce
stress,
depression and
anxiety
Biofeedback
Can help people
relax by providing
information about
changes in muscle
tension.
Meditation (Relaxation)
Quiet time to relax and enjoy the tranquility
Reduces the bad effects of stress such as
headaches, hypertension, anxiety and
insomnia
Social Support
Being able to confide fears & frustrations to
close friends will reduce stress.
Happily married couples live longer
Are alternative medicines
effective?
E.g. Acupuncture, massage therapy,
spiritual healing, herbal remedies,
aromatherapy.
The value of these remedies are often over
estimated due to:
Placebo effect
(You get what you expect)
Spontaneous remission
(The body cures itself)