Stress & Disease
Health Psychology
• A. Nervous System– peripheral nervous system
• autonomic nervous system = controls organs (involuntary, automatic)
– sympathetic nervous system = mobilizes body for action
– parasympathetic nervous system = maintains & ____________________
Physiology of Stress
• B. Neuroendocrine System• neuroendocrine glands = controlled by
nervous system• release hormones that travel through blood & act on
organs
– _________________• releases many hormones, acts on adrenal glands
– adrenal glands = secretes catecholamines (epinephrine, norepinephrine)
– epi & norepi increase sympathetic stimulation
» ^ heart rate
» ^ blood pressure (bp)
» ^ breathing rate
» blood sent to muscles
Consequences of Stress
• Health habits^ smoking
^ alcohol use
^ drug usev ____________v sleep
• Health behaviorsv chance of seeking care^ delay in seeking carev ______________unclear symptom profile
• Physiological effects^ lipids^ bp^ hormonal activityv immunity
Infection & the Immune System
• Infection = ___________ invade & grow in body
3 Factors Determining Infection
1) Number of organisms
2) Virulence of organism– ______________ = ability to resist body’s
defenses– Toxigenicity = ability to produce poisons
3) Body’s defensive power
Types of Infection
• Primary = initial
• Secondary = 2nd infection, when body’s resistance is lowered from fighting primary infection vulnerable– often ________ than primary infection– e.g., pneumonia
Immune System
• Tissues, organs, & processes
• Protects from foreign invasion– Bacteria– Viruses– Fungi
• Removes damaged or _____________
Immune System Function
• ________________ Responses = attack any invader– Anatomical barriers = prevent entry
• (e.g., skin, nose & mouth mucous membranes)
– Phagocytosis = attack foreign particles
• Specific Responses = recognizes & attacks specific invaders, immunity
Creating Immunity
• Vaccination = introduce weakened or dead bacteria or viruses
Immune System Disorders
• Acquired Immune Deficiency Sydrome (AIDS) = immune system destroyed
• Allergies = _____________ immune system
• Autoimmune disorder = immune sys attacks body’s own cells
Stress & Disease
• Infection
• ______________
• Cardiovascular Disease– Complex relationship
• Asthma
• Arthritis
• Diabetes
• Hyperthyroidism
