1. Stress

2. USQ Norms Low 0 – 7 Below Average 8 – 15 Average 16 – 23 Above Average 24 – 31 High 32 - 39 Very High 40 or more The higher the score the greater the risk for some kind of illness

3. General Adaptation Syndrome (GAS)  Hans Selye in the 1930s identified a pattern of bodily responses that characterize the effects of stress on an individual.  The pattern consists of three stages that are common across individuals.  Alarm stage  Adaptation stage  Exhaustion stage

4. General Adaptation Syndrome  Alarm stage  Immediate reaction to a stressor  Widespread bodily changes:  Inhibition of digestion.  Rapid conversion of stored nutrients to glucose.  Increase in heart rate, blood pressure, respiration and sweating.  Blood supply routed to limbs and away from the centre of the body  The ‘flight-or-fight’ response.

5. General Adaptation Syndrome  Adaptation stage  Starts after a few minutes of alarm—preparation for action as immediate response fades.  Hypothalamus triggers pituitary gland to release adrenocorticotrophic hormone (ACTH).  Triggers release of glucocorticoids, norepinehrine, and epinephrine that are responsible for accompanying bodily changes.  Turn off low priority bodily responses, e.g., bone formation, sex, release of growth hormone.  Suppress processes that involve healing and tissue regrowth because of anti-inflammatory effects.  Inhibit sleep and enhance glucose production.  Organism is in a state of muscular readiness, ahead of growth, reproduction, immunity, and body maintenance and repair.

6. General Adaptation Syndrome  Exhaustion stage  If adaptation lasts too long exhaustion sets in.  Results from long-term effects of the glucocorticoids.  Become more susceptible to illness because of suppression of immune system.  Further stress is more damaging.

7. Life Stress  Hassles vs Stressors  Many daily annoyances can add up to stress, depleting personal resources.  Any life event can be stressful, including positive ones.  Unpredictability is the most stressful.  More stress leads to poorer health  Individual response depends on many factors

8. Adaptation to Stress http://www.lfhk.cuni.cz/patfyz /Intranet/Table s/22/2.jpg