NURS 403 PATHOPHYSIOLOGY
UNDERSTANDING STRESS,
PHAMACOLOGY AND FLUID BALANCE
WEEKLY LECTURE NOTES FOR YOUR EXAM
STUDY LATEST AND ACCURATE PACE
UNIVERSITY.
,Week One:
Stress:
- Perceived or anticipated threat that disrupts a person’s well-being or homeostasis
- Demands can be physical in nature (cold temperatures, moving heavy equipment) or
psychological (rush to meet exam deadlines, attempting to complete multiple job
assignments)
Traditional Overview of Stress:
- Walter B. Cannon
- “Fight or flight response”
- Hans Selye
- Physiologic stress involved: ( Like fear, anxiety, or overwhelming situations)
- Enlargement of adrenal gland
- Decreased lymphocyte levels
- Development of bleeding ulcers
- General adaptation syndrome
- Physiologic stress impairs ability to resist future stressors
Key Physiological systems that are activated by chronic stress:
- Neuroendocrine system
- Autonomic nervous system
- Immune system
The following behaviors that results of chronic stress, can be linked to hypertension, diabetes,
depression, and obesity:
- Overeating
- Substance abuse
- Sleep disturbances
General Adaptation Syndrome (GAS): ( GAS describes the body's short term and long term
reactions to stress )
- Alarm stage
* Secretion of hormones and catecholamines to prepare for emergency reaction
* Arousal of body defenses
* Immediate reaction, where the body prepares to fight or flee ( increased heart
rate, blood flow to muscles)
- Resistance/adaptation stage
* Mobilization of body’s resources to handle sustained challenge
, * The body tries to return to homeostasis while remained alert
- Exhaustion stage (allostatic overload)
* Occurs stress continues and adaptation is not successful
* Leads to stress-related disorders
* Prolonged stress depletes the body’s resources, leading to burnout, reduced
immunity, and increased risk of chronic diseases.
Allostasis and Allostatic Overload:
- Allostasis: The process by which the body achieves stability through physiological
change, adjusting to stress by altering hormone levels and other systems
- Allostatic overload: occurs when these adaptations are overused, leading to wear and tear
on the body. This overload can cause or exacerbate diseases such as cardiovascular
disease, obesity, and mental health disorders. The concepts of allostasis emphasizes that
returning to baseline after stress isn't always the most adapts un response,as the body
might anticipate and prepare for future stress.
The Alarm Reaction
- In your brain, there's the hypothalamus and this part of your brain is the one that notices
when something stressful is happening. The hypothalamus sends out a signal called CRH
( Corticotropin- Releasing hormone). The pituitary gland gets the signal from the
hypothalamus and sends out another message called ACTH ( Adrenocorticotropic
Hormone). You have two Adrenal glands on top of your kidneys and they start getting
your body ready for action. The adrenal medulla starts releasing chemicals called
epinephrine ( adrenaline) and norepinephrine. Which makes your heart beat faster,
, breathing quicker, and give you energy to run if you have to. Now the adrenal cortex,
releases glucocorticoids, which help your body stay strong and keep fighting stress for a
longer time, even after the first burst of energy.
The Stress Systems:
- Perception or anticipation of a threat activates physiologic stress systems
* Hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis
* Sympathetic nervous system
* Immune system
Activation modulates a broad range of mediators:
* Protect and meet demands of the stressor
* Facilitate recovery
Stress Response:
1. Stress triggers the hypothalamus to release CRH.
2. CRH stimulates the anterior pituitary to releases ACTH.
3. ACTH prompts the adrenal cortex to secrete cortisol.
UNDERSTANDING STRESS,
PHAMACOLOGY AND FLUID BALANCE
WEEKLY LECTURE NOTES FOR YOUR EXAM
STUDY LATEST AND ACCURATE PACE
UNIVERSITY.
,Week One:
Stress:
- Perceived or anticipated threat that disrupts a person’s well-being or homeostasis
- Demands can be physical in nature (cold temperatures, moving heavy equipment) or
psychological (rush to meet exam deadlines, attempting to complete multiple job
assignments)
Traditional Overview of Stress:
- Walter B. Cannon
- “Fight or flight response”
- Hans Selye
- Physiologic stress involved: ( Like fear, anxiety, or overwhelming situations)
- Enlargement of adrenal gland
- Decreased lymphocyte levels
- Development of bleeding ulcers
- General adaptation syndrome
- Physiologic stress impairs ability to resist future stressors
Key Physiological systems that are activated by chronic stress:
- Neuroendocrine system
- Autonomic nervous system
- Immune system
The following behaviors that results of chronic stress, can be linked to hypertension, diabetes,
depression, and obesity:
- Overeating
- Substance abuse
- Sleep disturbances
General Adaptation Syndrome (GAS): ( GAS describes the body's short term and long term
reactions to stress )
- Alarm stage
* Secretion of hormones and catecholamines to prepare for emergency reaction
* Arousal of body defenses
* Immediate reaction, where the body prepares to fight or flee ( increased heart
rate, blood flow to muscles)
- Resistance/adaptation stage
* Mobilization of body’s resources to handle sustained challenge
, * The body tries to return to homeostasis while remained alert
- Exhaustion stage (allostatic overload)
* Occurs stress continues and adaptation is not successful
* Leads to stress-related disorders
* Prolonged stress depletes the body’s resources, leading to burnout, reduced
immunity, and increased risk of chronic diseases.
Allostasis and Allostatic Overload:
- Allostasis: The process by which the body achieves stability through physiological
change, adjusting to stress by altering hormone levels and other systems
- Allostatic overload: occurs when these adaptations are overused, leading to wear and tear
on the body. This overload can cause or exacerbate diseases such as cardiovascular
disease, obesity, and mental health disorders. The concepts of allostasis emphasizes that
returning to baseline after stress isn't always the most adapts un response,as the body
might anticipate and prepare for future stress.
The Alarm Reaction
- In your brain, there's the hypothalamus and this part of your brain is the one that notices
when something stressful is happening. The hypothalamus sends out a signal called CRH
( Corticotropin- Releasing hormone). The pituitary gland gets the signal from the
hypothalamus and sends out another message called ACTH ( Adrenocorticotropic
Hormone). You have two Adrenal glands on top of your kidneys and they start getting
your body ready for action. The adrenal medulla starts releasing chemicals called
epinephrine ( adrenaline) and norepinephrine. Which makes your heart beat faster,
, breathing quicker, and give you energy to run if you have to. Now the adrenal cortex,
releases glucocorticoids, which help your body stay strong and keep fighting stress for a
longer time, even after the first burst of energy.
The Stress Systems:
- Perception or anticipation of a threat activates physiologic stress systems
* Hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis
* Sympathetic nervous system
* Immune system
Activation modulates a broad range of mediators:
* Protect and meet demands of the stressor
* Facilitate recovery
Stress Response:
1. Stress triggers the hypothalamus to release CRH.
2. CRH stimulates the anterior pituitary to releases ACTH.
3. ACTH prompts the adrenal cortex to secrete cortisol.
