Chapter 10: Stress and Disease

CHAPTER 10: STRESS AND DISEASE Learning Objectives 1. Identify the general concepts of the stress response a. The stress response involves activation of the central nervous system and the endocrine system in the body. Both physical and psychological stressors can trigger this response. 2. Describe how stress affects immune system and how personality can affect stress, coping, and illness a. three stages of the General Adaptation Syndrome (alarm, resistance or adaptation, and exhaustion). 3. List known examples of disease known to be stress related a. Examples of stress-related diseases include hypertension, depression, diabetes, and obesity. Chapter Summary This chapter discusses the role of stress in promoting the onset and progression of human diseases. Stress is defined as a perceived or anticipated threat that disrupts a person's well-being and exceeds their capacity to meet demands. Chronic stress can compromise recovery, leading to unhealthy coping strategies and an increased risk of illnesses such as hypertension, depression, diabetes, and obesity. The concept of stress was advanced by Walter B. Cannon and Hans Selye, who described the physiological and psychological reactions to stress and its impact on the body. Chronic Stress and its Effects ● Chronic stress is associated with maladaptive psychological functioning and immune dysregulation ● Inflammatory processes and prolonged secretion of proinflammatory cytokines are linked to cardiovascular disease, osteoporosis, arthritis, diabetes, COPD, and other agingassociated diseases ● Burnout, a syndrome with negative impacts on well-being and health, is linked to dysregulation of the HPA axis and the ANS, accompanied by impaired immune function and inflammation Early Life Stress and Long-Term Health Risks ● Children exposed to prenatal or postnatal stress are at risk for developing long-lasting health alterations ● Maternal cortisol secretion during stress can affect fetal development and increase the risk of conditions like low birth weight, obesity, cardiovascular diseases, and behavioral disorders ● Exposure to early life stressors like abuse or low socioeconomic status can lead to dysregulated HPA and ANS systems, resulting in chronic inflammation and increased disease risk ● Early life stressors may impair brain systems that govern executive functions and behavior regulation Effects of Stress on Telomere Length, Aging, and Disease ● Telomeres protect genetic information and degrade during cell division ● Telomere shortening is linked to biologic aging and can be accelerated by inflammation and oxidative stress ● Shorter telomeres are associated with increased risk of aging-related morbidity and mortality ● Stress contributes to telomere shortening and greater risk of depression and metabolic disorders Coping and Intervention Strategies ● Personality characteristics, academic achievement, and social support increase ability to handle stress ● Maladaptive coping responses to stress can negatively affect immune functions and increase susceptibility to disease ● Exercise as a coping strategy rebalances neurotransmitters, improves cognitive functions, and reduces obesity and inflammation ● Mindfulness therapy reduces the chronic impact of stress by accepting and monitoring experiences, modulating cortisol secretion, and dampening stress reactions ● In children, mindfulness interventions improve coping behavior, sleep, self-esteem, wellbeing, and reduce anxiety and depression ● Triggered by the activation of the HPA axis