HLTH 101 Lecture 3: Chapter 2
15 Feb 2017
School
Department
Course
Professor
Document Summary
This chapter describes how stressful events can affect psychological health, cardiovascular health, immune and digestive systems. Stress- the nonspecific response of the body to any demands made upon it. Stressor- agents or situations that causes stress- it can be positive or negative. Distress- negative stress that can result illness or long term health problems. Acute time limited stressor- particular event, occasion can cause it. Brief naturalistic stressor- challenging situation/s such as taking a test. Stressful event/ sequences- disaster- traumatic happening, death in family, separation, accident and constant challenging situation etc. Chronic stressor- ongoing demands with indefinite period of stress lasting for a long time. Unpleasant experience such as rape, assault, past experience of poverty, victim of war crimes etc. In general everyone"s body tries to maintain a stable and consistent physiological state called homeostasis. Stressors whether in form of physical illness or psychological issues trigger a nonspecific response. Body tries to restore homeostasis by means of adaptive response.
