Chapter 14 pt. 1: Stress and Health

Bellringer Fill out the survey and find out if your stressed. Fill out the survey and find out if your stressed. On the back write out the things that stress you out the most. Then think about ways you can cope with your stress or lessen it. On the back write out the things that stress you out the most. Then think about ways you can cope with your stress or lessen it.

Agenda (Note: Beginning of Unit 12, another short one) 1. Bell Ringer: What causes stress? (5) 2. Notes: Stress and Health Pt. 1(20) 3. Bullying article and discussion (10) 4. Stress activity (20) 5. Video Clip: Getting into college discussion (15)

Studying the Effects of Stress on Health Behavioral Medicine: field that combines knowledge of biomedical perspective and behavioral perspective to study and treat health and illness. Term is often used interchangeably with Psychiatry. Behavioral Medicine: field that combines knowledge of biomedical perspective and behavioral perspective to study and treat health and illness. Term is often used interchangeably with Psychiatry. Health Psychology: subfield of psychology that is used to contribute to behavioral medicine. Looks at psychological causes of illness and stress (cognitive, environment, social, biological, etc.) Health Psychology: subfield of psychology that is used to contribute to behavioral medicine. Looks at psychological causes of illness and stress (cognitive, environment, social, biological, etc.)

Killers of Yesterday and Today Percentage U.S.deaths Tuber- culosis Pneu- monia Diarrhea/ enteritis Heart disease 1900 Percentage U.S.deaths Heart disease CancerStrokes Chronic lung disease 1991

What is Stress? Stress is the process by which we respond to events, that we appraise as threatening or challenging. Stress is the process by which we respond to events, that we appraise as threatening or challenging. Stressors: are the events/things that stress us out! Stressors: are the events/things that stress us out!

Stress Is Not Caused By An Event Itself! Cognition affects how we react and appraise an external event which affects how we respond. Cognition affects how we react and appraise an external event which affects how we respond. Stressors Catastrophes Life changes Hassles Intervening factors Appraisal Perceived control Personality Social support Coping behaviors Stress reactions Physiological Emotional Behavioral

Stress Can Be Harmful or Helpful Depending on Your Appraisal Stressful event (tough math test) Threat (“Yikes! This is beyond me!”) Challenge (“I’ve got to apply all I know”) Panic, freeze up Aroused, focused Appraisal Response

Yerkes-Dodson Principle of Arousal (Remember?) Yerkes-Dodson Principle of Arousal: general tasks are performed best with a medium amount of stress/arousal. Yerkes-Dodson Principle of Arousal: general tasks are performed best with a medium amount of stress/arousal.

Biology of Stress? What is Activated When You Feel Stress? Stress-Response Cycle Includes: Stress-Response Cycle Includes: –1. Sympathetic and parasympathetic cycles are activated –2. Withdraw. Pull Back. Conserve Energy. –3. Women- “Tend and Befriend”

Secondary Response Cycle

Animals and Humans Tend to React To Stress In the Same Pattern. Hans Selye discovered the responsive cycle for how we react to stress which he named the: Hans Selye discovered the responsive cycle for how we react to stress which he named the: General Adaptation Syndrome (GAS) General Adaptation Syndrome (GAS) –Phase 1: Alarm: activation of sympathetic nervous system. (“Fight or Flight”) –Phase 2: Resistance: arousal remains high as you attempt to cope with the stressor. –Phase 3: Exhaustion: body becomes run down with constant stress which can leave you more vulnerable to illness or even death.

Diagram of GAS Stress resistance Phase 1 Alarm reaction (mobilize resources) Phase 2 Resistance (cope with stressor) Phase 3 Exhaustion (reserves depleted) The body’s resistance to stress can only Last so long before exhaustion sets in Stressor occurs

Stressful Life Events Can Create Serious Health Risks Categories of Stressful Life Events: Categories of Stressful Life Events: –1. Catastrophes: unavoidable natural disasters, etc. –2. Significant Life Changes: loss of loved one, leaving home, loss of job, etc. –3. Everyday Hassles: traffic, long lines at Best Buy, etc. traffic, long lines at Best Buy, etc.

Perceived Control Effects Health and Stress Stressful events are especially harmful if they are perceived as negative and uncontrollable. Stressful events are especially harmful if they are perceived as negative and uncontrollable. Those who feel stressful events are beyond their control are also more susceptible to illness and disease. Those who feel stressful events are beyond their control are also more susceptible to illness and disease.

The Rat With No Control Over the Shocks Develops Ulcers No connection to shock source To shock controlTo shock source “Executive” rat“Subordinate” ratControl rat

Other Influences on Health and Stress Poverty: poorer people are more at risk for a premature death. Poverty: poorer people are more at risk for a premature death. Inequality: areas where there is a large discrepancy/gap between rich and poor have lower life expectancies than areas where differences are less extreme. Inequality: areas where there is a large discrepancy/gap between rich and poor have lower life expectancies than areas where differences are less extreme.

Other Influences on Health and Stress Optimism-Pessimism: Those with more positive outlooks tend to cope with stressful events better and have better health than those who dwell on the negative. Optimism-Pessimism: Those with more positive outlooks tend to cope with stressful events better and have better health than those who dwell on the negative. Outlooks often tied to feelings of control. Outlooks often tied to feelings of control.

Persistent Day to Day Stress May Lead to Burnout Burnout: physical, emotional, and mental exhaustion brought on by persistent job-related stress. Burnout: physical, emotional, and mental exhaustion brought on by persistent job-related stress. Often common in teachers, nurses, and police officers. Often common in teachers, nurses, and police officers.

Stress and Heart Disease Although relatively rare in 1900, by the 1950s coronary heart disease has become the leading cause of death in America. Although relatively rare in 1900, by the 1950s coronary heart disease has become the leading cause of death in America. Coronary Heart Disease: when vessels of heart are clogged which stops heart muscles from being nourished. Coronary Heart Disease: when vessels of heart are clogged which stops heart muscles from being nourished. Many behavioral factors help contribute to this disease but stress is also a major factor. Many behavioral factors help contribute to this disease but stress is also a major factor.

Hopelessness and Heart Disease Hopelessness scores Heart attack Death Low riskModerate riskHigh risk Men who feel extreme hopelessness are at greater risk for heart attacks and early death

Personality Type and Heart Disease Type A Personality: competitive, hard driving, impatient, verbally aggressive, and anger prone people. Type A Personality: competitive, hard driving, impatient, verbally aggressive, and anger prone people. Type B Personality: easy-going and relaxed people. Type B Personality: easy-going and relaxed people. Who’s at greater risk for heart disease? Who’s at greater risk for heart disease?

Stress Related Illnesses Psychophysiological Illnesses: “mind-body” illnesses. Physical illnesses caused by stress. Psychophysiological Illnesses: “mind-body” illnesses. Physical illnesses caused by stress. –Ex: Hypertension and some headaches. Blood pressure also increased by too much stress. Blood pressure also increased by too much stress. Are also referred to as Psychosomatic disorders. Are also referred to as Psychosomatic disorders.

Somatoform Disorders (Not In Book) Somatoform Disorder: illnesses where you have some physical symptoms without an apparent physical cause. Illnesses are said to be psychological in nature. Somatoform Disorder: illnesses where you have some physical symptoms without an apparent physical cause. Illnesses are said to be psychological in nature. Theories about causes of somatoform disorders are often rooted in psychoanalytic theory. Theories about causes of somatoform disorders are often rooted in psychoanalytic theory. Illnesses are often referred to as “Hysteria.” Illnesses are often referred to as “Hysteria.”

Examples of Somatoform Disorders Conversion: when a person converts intense emotional difficulties into the loss of a specific physiological function. Conversion: when a person converts intense emotional difficulties into the loss of a specific physiological function. –Ex: blindness or paralysis without a physical cause. Symptoms often have sudden onsets, terminations, and reappearances. Symptoms often have sudden onsets, terminations, and reappearances. Behavior is unintentional and outside of the conscious control of the patient. Behavior is unintentional and outside of the conscious control of the patient.

Cortisol The Stress Hormone: secreted at higher levels during “fight or flight.” The Stress Hormone: secreted at higher levels during “fight or flight.” –Increases in times of stress give your body the energy to survive. Too much over time and it can have a negative impact on your health. Too much over time and it can have a negative impact on your health.

Examples of Somatoform Disorders Hypochondriasis: is when a healthy person becomes preoccupied with imaginary ailments. Person is genuinely convinced they are ill. Hypochondriasis: is when a healthy person becomes preoccupied with imaginary ailments. Person is genuinely convinced they are ill. Often associated with OCD and anxiety disorders Often associated with OCD and anxiety disorders

Examples of Somatoform Disorders Factitious Disorder: an illness whose symptoms are either self-induced or falsified by the patient. Factitious Disorder: an illness whose symptoms are either self-induced or falsified by the patient. Sometimes patients lie about disorder to get attention or sympathy; others are often interested in receiving drugs or other benefits associated with the feigned illness. Sometimes patients lie about disorder to get attention or sympathy; others are often interested in receiving drugs or other benefits associated with the feigned illness. Factitious Ulcer

The Immune System and Stress Lymphocytes: Main defender against disease in immune system made up of two types of white blood cells. Lymphocytes: Main defender against disease in immune system made up of two types of white blood cells. B lymphocytes form in the bone marrow and release antibodies that fight bacterial infections B lymphocytes form in the bone marrow and release antibodies that fight bacterial infections T lymphocytes form in the thymus and, among other duties, attack cancer cells, viruses and foreign substances T lymphocytes form in the thymus and, among other duties, attack cancer cells, viruses and foreign substances

Fighting Disease with Immune System Macrophage: other agent of immune system which identifies, pursues, and ingests harmful invaders. Macrophage: other agent of immune system which identifies, pursues, and ingests harmful invaders.

Problems with Immune System Immune System can either react too strongly or under react to harmful bodies. Immune System can either react too strongly or under react to harmful bodies. –Over-reaction causes body to attack its own tissues. Ex: arthritis, allergies, lupus, M.S. –Under-reaction causes harmful bodies to spread. Ex: cancer Stress can divert energy away from the immune system making illnesses more likely. Stress can divert energy away from the immune system making illnesses more likely.

Conditioning the Immune System Experiments have been conducted illustrating power to condition the immune system to respond in certain ways. Experiments have been conducted illustrating power to condition the immune system to respond in certain ways. UCS (drug) UCR (immune suppression) UCS (drug) UCR (immune suppression) CS (sweetened water) CS (sweetened water) CR (immune suppression)

Promoting Health- Coping with Stress Aerobic Exercise has positive psychological and physical benefits. Aerobic Exercise has positive psychological and physical benefits. Increases heart and lung fitness and may also help alleviate depression and anxiety. Increases heart and lung fitness and may also help alleviate depression and anxiety. Depression score Before treatment evaluation After treatment evaluation No-treatment group Aerobic exercise group Relaxation treatment group

Using Biofeedback to Improve Health Biofeedback: system for electronically recording, amplifying, and feeding back information regarding a subtle physiological state like blood pressure and muscle tension. Biofeedback: system for electronically recording, amplifying, and feeding back information regarding a subtle physiological state like blood pressure and muscle tension.

Promoting Health A strong social network which offers support strongly promotes health during an illness and when healthy. A strong social network which offers support strongly promotes health during an illness and when healthy. % with high support

Promoting Health Spirituality and Faith Communities has a strong correlation with positive health and enhancing medical treatment. Spirituality and Faith Communities has a strong correlation with positive health and enhancing medical treatment. Possible reasons behind correlation with religion? Possible reasons behind correlation with religion?

Overview of Healthy and Unhealthy Tendencies Life events Tendency toward HealthIllness Personal appraisal ChallengeThreat Personality type Easy going Nondepressed Optimistic Hostile Depressed Pessimistic Personality habits Nonsmoking Regular exercise Good nutrition Smoking Sedentary Poor nutrition Level of social support Close, enduringLacking