Stress & Health

The interplay between mind, body and disease

Stress

• Process by which we perceive and respond to events appraised as threats or challenges– Ongoing process– Subjective & depends on appraisals

• ‘Good’ events appraised as threats

• ‘Bad’ events appraised as challenges

Stress

Stress

• Stress can lead to (associated with):– Psychological effects such as anxiety and fear– Physiological effects such as activation of ANS

& impairment of immune system – Behavioral effects such as coping

• Appraisals key for these effects– Interpretation of event w/ respect to goals &

well being

Stress Appraisals

Stressors

• Stressors are environmental or psychological events that can produce stress– No objective stressors– All depends on how event is appraised– Different appraisals of same event lead to

different responses (stress levels)

Stress Appraisals

CNS, Endocrine System & Stress

Stress Appraisals• Arousal level depends on appraisals

General Adaptation Syndrome• Selye - bodies pass through three stages

dealing with stress1.) Initial alarm stage: metabolism speeds up as the

body mobilizes to fight stress

2.) Resistance stage: arousal becomes more moderate but is sustained

3.) Exhaustion stage: prolonged stress leads to exhaustion of bodily resources

GAS

Sources of Stress

• Life Events– Catastrophes: Earthquake– Life changes: Marriage or job change – Daily hassles: Traffic jams, exams, taxes, busy

• Optimism-Pessimism– Impacts appraisals & stress related illness

Optimism & Health

Sources of Stress• Control

– Low appraised control can be stressful– Perception key (The Brain Module 22 video)

Stress & Heart Disease

• Type A v Type B– As - competitive, hard driving, impatient, angry

– Bs - easygoing, relaxed• Anger & hostility is core

– Differ on:• Life style (smoking, sleep, caffeine)

• Physiologically reactivity under stress

• Heart disease

CNS, Stress & Immune Function• Functional & structural association between

CNS & Immune System– CNS hormones impact immune organs– Immune cells have receptors for adrenaline

• Stress occurs in CNS– Impacts immune functioning

Stress & Immune System

• Divorce/depression/test anxiety decreases circulating antibodies– Slows macrophages and NK cells

• Stress increases circulating cortisol

• Cortisol prevents immune cell reproduction

• Stress impairs immune function

Stress & Immune System

• Common Cold

Stress & Disease

• AIDS– Stress speeds progression of AIDS

• Cancer– Stress (probably) speeds tumor growth and

death

Promoting Health

• Coping– Emotion-Focused: Reduce emotional

effects of stressors • Escape-Avoidance: Avoid dealing with stressor

– Problem-Focused: Attempts to terminate or attenuate stressor

• Studying

– Best used in combination

Promoting Health

• Coping– Aerobic exercise reduces stress & depression

• Increases overall health (heart, blood pressure)

• Increases lifespan (~ 2 years)

• Quality of life better

– Biofeedback & relaxation techniques (see text)

Promoting Health

• Social Support– Family ties & close

interpersonal relationships• Marriage

• Friends

– Decreased risk for morbidity and mortality

• Risk level comparable to smoking cigarettes

• Need to belong

Promoting Health

• Why does social support promote health?– Life style & medical care– Positive appraisals and coping of stressors– Enhance immune function, reduce CVR– Emotional disclosure

• Confiding past traumas improves health

– Satisfies need to belong• Control for above and relationship remains

Promoting Health

• Spirituality & faith communities associated with lower mortality risk– Reduces mortality risk comparable to NOT

smoking (women) and exercising

Promoting Health

Promoting Health

Promoting Health• Why does spirituality & faith communities promote health?

Reaction Paper IV: Stress

• Summarize how stress is linked to disease and illness. List at least 2 ways you can reduce the stress in your life

• PLEASE TURN THESE IN AFTER CLASS!

Summary: Stress and Illness

• Appraisals

• Stressors & GAS

• Vs Impacting on stress

• Stress & disease

• Promoting health