stress & disease health psychology. a. nervous system –peripheral nervous system autonomic...

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