STRESS

EFFECT OF STRESS ON
HUMAN BODY

Dr.I.MADHURI . MBBS.MD
 Stress

Ⅰ. Introduction
Definition of stress

What are the effects of

stress on the body

How to cope up with

stress
tips to reduce stress

the diagnostic tests to

know the stress

How to manage stress

How to treat stress

 Stress
1．Stress
Stress is defined as a state of tension that can lead to
disharmony or threaten the homeostasis of body.

burn
operation
infection Stress
hypoxia
injury
Increased
noise heart rate
fear

anxiety
Is All Stress Bad?
 Moderate levels of stress may actually improve
performance and efficiency

 Too little stress may result in boredom

 Too much stress may cause an unproductive anxiety

level
Stressors
 School
 Work
 Family
 Relationships
 Legal
 Finances
 Health/illness
 Environment
 Living Situation
Stress effects
• Stress is the body’s response to
a physical, chemical, emotional,
or environmental stress.
• Stress can cause short term and
long term effects on the body

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4．Significance of stress
■ Eustress: Normal stress is necessary for
an active, healthy life,increase mental and
physical alertness and can enhance certain
abilities. (Fight or flight).
■ Distress: if the stress response is
excessive or prolonged, it may eventually
result in diseases, such as ulcers, et al.
identifying Stressors

Situations, activities, and

relationships that cause ‘trauma’ to
one’s physical, emotional, or
psychological self
Acute Stress(ors)

Short-Term; quick decisive action required for survival

Chronic Stress(ors) = long term, persistent
Physical, Emotional, Sexual Abuse Demanding Job
Poverty, Malnourishment Depression, Anxiety
EFFECT OF STRESS
 Physical: muscle tension, increased heart rate, aches
and pains.
 Mental: forgetfulness, poor memory, constant worry.
Irritability restlessness fatigue
 Emotional: anger, depression, mood swings, negative
thinking. Insecure feeling
 Behavioral: compulsive eating, explosive actions,
withdrawal.nail biting bed wetting, sudden angry
bouts,alcohol abuse drug abuse relationship prob
The Stress-Response

•Mobilization of energy

•Increased cardiovascular tone

•Suppression of digestion
•
•Suppression of growth

•Suppression of reproduction

•Enhancement of immune system

•Sharpening of cognition
 The consequences of chronic stress

•Mobilization of energy………………………Fatigue, diabetes, muscle loss

•Increased cardiovascular tone…………….Hypertension, heart disease

•Suppression of digestion…………………..Stress ulcers

•
•Suppression of growth……………………..Stress dwarfism

•Suppression of reproduction………………Anovulation, erectile dysfunction

•Enhancement of immune system…………Immune suppression

•Sharpening of cognition……………………Impaired memory and judgment

 Effects of stress on the organs and systems

■Change of CNS

▲ excitement, nervousness,

anxiety, fear, anger, etc.。

proper mood

and learning ability

CNS dysfunction, depression,

anorexia, and even suicidal.

■Change of cardiovascular system

■Change of gastrointestinal
 Stress

■Change of immunity
Stress immunity function↓

■Change of blood

WBC, Plt↑, Blood coagulation ↑, viscosity ↑, ESR↑ thrombosis

Stress effects on the hippocampus:
the realm of memory
Impaired synaptic plasticity
Atrophy of dendritic networks of
communication
Fewer new neurons
Dead neurons!
Decreased overall hippocampal volume
Result:
The effects of chronic stress in the
dopamine system

Depletion of dopamine
Result:
The effects of stress in the frontal
cortex
Decreased connectivity in neural networks by way
of fewer dendritic branches
Physiological Effects of Stress
Corticotropin Releasing Hormone

Adrenocorticotropic Hormone

Glucocorticoid = Stress Hormone

Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Adrenal AXIS
Cortisol
1. Cortisol is an aging hormone
2. Elevated amounts of Cortisol damages hippocampus
which results in accelerated aging responses
throughout body
3. An elevated amount of Cortisol leads to depression &
feelings of fatigue
Negative Impact of
Prolonged Stress Response
1. There is a negative impact on body’s organs, mental
functioning & Immune system
2. There is an impact on immune system which
impedes immune system from destroying viruses,
bacteria, tumors & irregular cells
3. Stress impacts immunosuppression & it is an
important influence on health & illness of individual
Types of Stress

 Emotional stress
 Physical Stress
Psychological stress
Surgical stress
 Stress

Ⅱ. stress response and pathogenesis

stressor

neuroendocrine Cellular
response
stress

Effects of stress on the body

 1. neuroendocrine response

Nervous System Endocrine System

Overview of systems involved
 Overview of structures involved
Nervous system

Central nervous Peripheral nervous

system (CNS) system (PNS)

Brain Spinal cord Autonomic nervous Somatic nervous

system (ANS) system
(involuntary muscles) (voluntary muscles)

Parasympathetic Sympathetic
(See next (conserves energy; (mobilizes & expends energy;
slide) undertakes ‘housekeeping’) prepares for fight or flight)
ANS structure: Adrenal Glands
Adrenal glands
 On top of the kidneys
 Two parts:
 Outer covering (cortex)
 Inner part (the medulla)
 Both parts secrete stress hormones
 These perform complementary roles
in up- and down-regulation.
Catecholamines = Epinephrine, Norepinephrine
Stress response
Operates via two interrelated systems:
 SAM (Sympathetic-adrenomedullary)
 HPA (hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenocortical).
 These balance each other
 Both are triggered by the hypothalamus
Hypothalamus
 Secretes CRH, which

 causes the pituitary to secrete ACTH,

 which stimulates the adrenal medulla to release

epinephrine,

 and the adrenal cortex to release GC.

Corticotropin Releasing Hormone

Adrenocorticotropic Hormone

Glucocorticoid = Stress Hormone

Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Adrenal AXIS
Corticotropin Releasing Hormone

Adrenocorticotropic Hormone

Glucocortoid

Reduce Inflammation
Reduce Histamines
Reduce immunity Increase Energy Available
The brain system for appraising threats
 Limbic system:
 Adds emotional dimensions to stress perception: fear,
anger, anxiety
 Especially centered in the hypothalamus
 STRESS

Increase
Sympathe
plasma fatty
tic ANS
acids
available for
energy

Increase
Serum
Liver Liver Glucose
Glycogen Glucose

Endorphin Release Decreased PAIN

Effect of Stress on the Heart
 Increased Heart Rate
 Increased Blood Pressure
 Increased risk of a heart attack.
 Increased risk for cardiac
arrhythmias

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Signs and Symptoms
increased heart rate
of Stress
 Increased myocardial contractility.
 vasoconstriction.
 . Thrombosis
 Ischemia of micro vasculature
 Atherosclerosis
 Infarction. Cardiac shock
 cerebral shock

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It is important to be aware of:
 Situational Risk Factors & Enduring Risk Factors
 Acute Family Relationship Conflict
 Acute Life Stress
 Acute Mental or Physical Wellness Crisis
 Social Isolation
 Impaired Caregiver-Child Relationship
 Everyday Stress
Forms of Potential Trauma to
Children
 Abuse
 Physical, sexual or emotional
 Neglect/maltreatment i.e.…relational poverty
 Witnessing violence or domestic abuse
 Lack of security and safety in a primary enduring
relationship i.e.….attachment
What Will We See Behaviorally
Abused children often
Hippocampus struggle with complex,
Functions goals directed behaviors,
 Impaired learning and have trouble
 Less ability to make adapting to transitions,
memories learning changes and demands…
 Less ability to retrieve
memories – recall
 More impulsiveness