HLTH101 Lecture 6: Tut3-Week6-DiscussionQuestions-Stress
17 Dec 2016
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Tutorial 3: Week 6 – Stress, Allostatic Load, and Health
Questions based on McEwen (1998) article:
1) Define the terms allostasis and allostatic load.
Allostasis: “the ability to achieve stability through change” it’s when the multiple
bodily functions kick in to respond to the changes in the body caused by stress.
Caused by major changes in the body, environment.
Allostatic Load: “wear and tear caused by chronic activity or inactivity by
allostatic systems”. Caused by a buildup of stress not controlled.
Constant wear and tear of the body built up by stress, which can often lead to
depression
2) What systems/axes in the body are involved in allostasis? What signal
molecules initiate the allostatic response? (also discussed in Chapter 3 of
your textbook)
Systems Involved:
• Sympathetic nervous system- flight and fight response
• Hypothalamic- Pituitary Adrenal Axis (HPA)-stimulating and inhibitory
hormones. Adrenal gland secretes cortisol. Sympathetic response is quick
response and endocrine is slow and long term.
• Cardiovascular System
• Immune System
• Metabolic System
Signal Molecules
Activations of the HPA and sympathetic nervous system releases:
• catecholamines from the nerves and the adrenal medulla
• leads to the secretion of corticotropin
3) What factors are important in determining individual differences in
responses to stressful situations? (Fig 1)
• The way a person perceives a situation
• General state of physical health
o Genetics
o Behavior
o Physiology
o Neural, endocrine and immune stress
o Lifestyle choices
find more resources at oneclass.com
find more resources at oneclass.com
Document Summary
Tutorial 3: week 6 stress, allostatic load, and health. Questions based on mcewen (1998) article: define the terms allostasis and allostatic load. Allostasis: the ability to achieve stability through change it"s when the multiple bodily functions kick in to respond to the changes in the body caused by stress. Caused by major changes in the body, environment. Allostatic load: wear and tear caused by chronic activity or inactivity by allostatic systems . Caused by a buildup of stress not controlled. What signal molecules initiate the allostatic response? (also discussed in chapter 3 of your textbook) Systems involved: sympathetic nervous system- flight and fight response, hypothalamic- pituitary adrenal axis (hpa)-stimulating and inhibitory hormones. Sympathetic response is quick response and endocrine is slow and long term: cardiovascular system, metabolic system. Homeostasis response is a type of allostatic response. Homeostasis responses: lower body temperature, sweating, salivation decrease. When all these responses are combined to protect water inside the body, it is called allostasis.
