Health and Wellness
Stress Management
Chapter 10
Terminology Review:
1. Stress - The sum of the physical and emotional reactions to any stimulus that disturbs the organism’s homeostasis.
2. Stressor - Any physical or psychological event or condition that produces stress.
3. Stress response - The physiological changes associated with stress.
4. Autonomic Nervous System - The branch of the peripheral nervous system that, largely without conscious thought
controls basic body processes; subdivided into the sympathetic and parasympathetic systems.
5. Parasympathetic Division – A division of the autonomic nervous system that moderates the excitory effect of the
sympathetic division, slowing metabolism and restoring energy supplies.
6. Sympathetic Division – A division of the autonomic nervous system that reacts to danger or other challenges by
most instantly accelerating body processes.
7. Norepinephrine – A neurotransmitter released by the sympathetic nervous system onto target tissues to increase
their function in the face of increased activity; when released by the brain, it causes arousal (increased attention,
awareness, and alertness); also called noradrenaline, the “fear hormone.”
8. Endocrine System – The system of glands, tissues, and cells that secrete hormones into the bloodstream to influence metabolism
and other body processes.
9. Hormone – A chemical messenger produced in the body and transported in the bloodstream to target cells or organs for
specific regulation of their activities.
10. Cortisol - A steroid hormone secreted by the outer layer of the adrenal gland; also called hydrocortisone.
11. Epinephrine - A hormone secreted by the medulla (inner core) of the adrenal gland that affects the functioning of organs
involved in responding to a stressor; also called adrenaline, the “anger hormone.”
12. Endorphins - Brain secretions that have pain-inhibiting effects.
13. Fight or Flight response - A defense reaction that prepares the organism for conflict or escape by triggering hormonal, cardiovascular, metabolic, and other changes.
14. Homeostasis - A state of stability and consistency in the physiological functioning of an
organism.
15. Somatic nervous system - The branch of the peripheral nervous system that governs motor
functions and sensory information; largely under our conscious control.
16. General Adaptation Syndrome (GAS)
– A pattern of stress responses consisting of three
stages:
alarm,
resistance, and exhaustion.
17. Eustress – Stress resulting from
a pleasant stressor.
18. Distress – Stress resulting from
an unpleasant stressor.
19. Psychoneuroimmunology (PNI) – The study of the
interactions among the nervous system, the endocrine
system,
and the immune
system.
20. Burnout – A state of physical,
mental, and emotional exhaustion.
21. Relaxation response - A physiological state characterized by feeling of warmth and quiet mental alertness.
22. Depression – A mood disorder characterized by loss of interest, sadness, hopelessness,
loss of appetite, disturbed sleep, and other physical symptoms.
Health and Wellness
Chapter 10
Study Questions:
1. What is stress and what causes it?
2. What are the stages of the general adaptation syndrome and what happens during each?
3. How does exposure to low-grade, long-term stress exhaust the human body/
4. What are some coping skills that a person may use to alleviate anxiety during a stressful situation?
5. What are the short and long term health problems associated with excess stress?
6. How is the stress response related to CVD?
7. What effects does exercise have on the stress response?
8. What dietary recommendations can help a person respond to a stressful situation, and what does not help the stress response?
9. How does social support affect the stress response?
10. How do relaxation techniques affect the stress response?
11. What types of outside help are available for helping an individual cope with stress?