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Stress and Stress and HealthHealth

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Health PsychologyHealth PsychologyHealth psychology is a field of psychology Health psychology is a field of psychology that contributes to behavioral medicine. that contributes to behavioral medicine.

The field studies stress-related aspects of The field studies stress-related aspects of disease and asks the following questions:disease and asks the following questions:

1. How do emotions and personality factors influence the risk of disease?

2. What attitudes and behaviors prevent illness and promote health and well-being?

3. How do our perceptions determine stress?

4. How can we reduce or control stress?

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Stress and StressorsStress and Stressors

Stress is a slippery concept. At times it is Stress is a slippery concept. At times it is the the stimulusstimulus (missing an appointment) and (missing an appointment) and

at other times it is a at other times it is a responseresponse (sweating (sweating while taking a test).while taking a test).

StressorsStressorsStress ReactionsStress Reactions

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Stress and StressorsStress and StressorsStress is not merely a stimulus or a Stress is not merely a stimulus or a

response. It is a process by which we response. It is a process by which we appraise and cope with environmental appraise and cope with environmental

threats and challenges.threats and challenges.

When short-lived or taken as a challenge, When short-lived or taken as a challenge, stressors may have positive effects. However, if stressors may have positive effects. However, if

stress is threatening or prolonged, it can be stress is threatening or prolonged, it can be harmful.harmful.

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Stress can be adaptive. In a fearful or stress- Stress can be adaptive. In a fearful or stress- causing situation, we can run away and save causing situation, we can run away and save our lives. Stress can be maladaptive. If it is our lives. Stress can be maladaptive. If it is prolonged (chronic stress), it increases our prolonged (chronic stress), it increases our

risk of illness and health problems.risk of illness and health problems.

Stress and IllnessStress and Illness

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The Stress Response The Stress Response SystemSystem

Canon proposed Canon proposed that the stress that the stress

response (fast) was response (fast) was a fight-or-flight a fight-or-flight

response marked by response marked by the outpouring of the outpouring of epinephrineepinephrine and and norepinephrinenorepinephrine from the inner from the inner adrenal glands, adrenal glands, increasing heart increasing heart and respiration and respiration

rates, mobilizing rates, mobilizing sugar and fat, and sugar and fat, and

dulling pain.dulling pain.

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The Stress Response The Stress Response SystemSystem

The hypothalamus The hypothalamus and the pituitary and the pituitary

gland also respond gland also respond to stress (slow) by to stress (slow) by

triggering the outer triggering the outer adrenal glands to adrenal glands to

secrete secrete glucocorticoidsglucocorticoids

(cortisol).(cortisol).

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Stressful Life EventsStressful Life EventsCatastrophic Events:Catastrophic Events: Catastrophic events Catastrophic events

like like earthquakes, combat stress, and earthquakes, combat stress, and floods lead individuals to become floods lead individuals to become

depressed, sleepless, and anxious. depressed, sleepless, and anxious.

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Significant Life ChangesSignificant Life ChangesThe death of a loved one, a divorce, a loss The death of a loved one, a divorce, a loss

of job, or a promotion may leave of job, or a promotion may leave individuals vulnerable to disease.individuals vulnerable to disease.

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Daily HasslesDaily HasslesRush hour traffic, long lines, job stress, and Rush hour traffic, long lines, job stress, and becoming burnt-out are the most significant becoming burnt-out are the most significant

sources of stress and can damage healthsources of stress and can damage health

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Stress and Causes of Stress and Causes of DeathDeath

Prolonged stress combined with unhealthy Prolonged stress combined with unhealthy behaviors may increase our risk for some behaviors may increase our risk for some

of today's leading diseases.of today's leading diseases.

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Stress and the HeartStress and the HeartStress that leads to elevated blood pressure may Stress that leads to elevated blood pressure may result in Coronary Heart Disease, a clogging of result in Coronary Heart Disease, a clogging of

the vessels that nourish the heart muscle.the vessels that nourish the heart muscle.

Plaque incoronary artery Artery

clogged

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Personality TypesPersonality TypesType AType A is a term used for competitive, hard-is a term used for competitive, hard-driving, impatient, verbally aggressive, and driving, impatient, verbally aggressive, and

anger-prone people. anger-prone people. Type BType B refers torefers to easygoing, easygoing, relaxed people (Friedman and Rosenman, 1974).relaxed people (Friedman and Rosenman, 1974).

Type A personalities are more likely to developcoronary heart disease.

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Stress and the Immune Stress and the Immune SystemSystem

B lymphocytes fight bacterial infections, T B lymphocytes fight bacterial infections, T lymphocytes attack cancer cells and viruses, lymphocytes attack cancer cells and viruses, and microphages ingest foreign substances. and microphages ingest foreign substances.

During stress, energy is mobilized away from During stress, energy is mobilized away from the immune system making it vulnerable.the immune system making it vulnerable.

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Stress and ColdsStress and ColdsPeople with the highest life stress scores People with the highest life stress scores

were also the most vulnerable when were also the most vulnerable when exposed to an experimental cold virus.exposed to an experimental cold virus.

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Stress and CancerStress and CancerStress does not create cancer cells. Stress does not create cancer cells.

Researchers disagree on whether stress Researchers disagree on whether stress influences the progression of cancer. influences the progression of cancer.

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Health-Related Health-Related ConsequencesConsequences

Stress can have a variety of health-Stress can have a variety of health-related consequences.related consequences.

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Coping with StressCoping with Stress

Problem-focused coping Problem-focused coping refers to reducing refers to reducing stress by changing events that cause the stressstress by changing events that cause the stress..

For example: changing jobsFor example: changing jobs

Emotion-focused copingEmotion-focused coping is when we is when we cannot change a stressful situation, and cannot change a stressful situation, and

we respond by attending to our emotional we respond by attending to our emotional needs.needs.

For example: seeking social supportFor example: seeking social support

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Perceived ControlPerceived ControlResearch with rats and humans indicates Research with rats and humans indicates that the absence of control over stressors that the absence of control over stressors

is a predictor of health problems.is a predictor of health problems.

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Explanatory StyleExplanatory StylePeople with an optimistic (instead of People with an optimistic (instead of

pessimistic) explanatory style tend to have pessimistic) explanatory style tend to have more control over stressors, cope better more control over stressors, cope better with stressful events, have better moods, with stressful events, have better moods,

and have a stronger immune system.and have a stronger immune system.

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Pessimism and Heart Pessimism and Heart DiseaseDisease

Pessimistic adult men are twice as likely to Pessimistic adult men are twice as likely to develop heart disease over a 10-year develop heart disease over a 10-year

period (Kubzansky et al., 2001).period (Kubzansky et al., 2001).

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Social SupportSocial SupportSupportive family members, marriage partners, Supportive family members, marriage partners, and close friends help people cope with stress. and close friends help people cope with stress.

Their immune functioning calms the Their immune functioning calms the cardiovascular system and lowers blood pressure.cardiovascular system and lowers blood pressure.

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Managing StressManaging Stress

1.1. a sense of controla sense of control2.2. an optimistic explanatory stylean optimistic explanatory style3.3. social supportsocial support

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Biofeedback, Relaxation, and Biofeedback, Relaxation, and MeditationMeditation

BiofeedbackBiofeedback systems systems use electronic devices to use electronic devices to inform people about their inform people about their physiological responses physiological responses

and gives them the and gives them the chance to bring their chance to bring their

response to a healthier response to a healthier range. range. Relaxation and Relaxation and meditationmeditation have similar have similar

effects in reducing effects in reducing tension and anxiety.tension and anxiety.

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Promoting HealthPromoting HealthPromoting health is generally defined as the Promoting health is generally defined as the absence of disease. We only think of health absence of disease. We only think of health

when we are diseased. However, health when we are diseased. However, health psychologists say that promoting health psychologists say that promoting health

begins by preventing illness and enhancing begins by preventing illness and enhancing well-being, which is a constant endeavor.well-being, which is a constant endeavor.

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Aerobic ExerciseAerobic ExerciseCan aerobic exercise Can aerobic exercise boost spirits? Many boost spirits? Many studies suggest that studies suggest that aerobic exercise can aerobic exercise can

elevate mood and well-elevate mood and well-being because aerobic being because aerobic exercise raises energy, exercise raises energy,

increases self-increases self-confidence, and lowers confidence, and lowers

tension, depression, tension, depression, and anxiety.and anxiety.

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Life-StyleLife-StyleModifying a Type-A lifestyle may reduce Modifying a Type-A lifestyle may reduce

the recurrence of heart attacks.the recurrence of heart attacks.

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Managing Stress: Managing Stress: SummarySummary

How can stress be managed?How can stress be managed?

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Modifying Illness-Related Modifying Illness-Related BehaviorsBehaviors

The elimination of smoking would The elimination of smoking would increase life expectancy more than any increase life expectancy more than any

other preventive measure.other preventive measure.

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Obesity and MortalityObesity and MortalityThe death rate is high among very The death rate is high among very

overweight men.overweight men.

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ActivityActivityLack of exercise is a major contributor to Lack of exercise is a major contributor to obesity. Just watching TV for two hours obesity. Just watching TV for two hours

resulted in a 23% increase of weight when resulted in a 23% increase of weight when other factors were controlled (Hu et al., other factors were controlled (Hu et al.,

2003).2003).

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Food ConsumptionFood ConsumptionOver the past 40 years average weight Over the past 40 years average weight

gain has increased. Health professionals gain has increased. Health professionals are pleading with US citizens to limit their are pleading with US citizens to limit their

food intake.food intake.

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Trading RisksTrading Risks

Although cigarette smoking has declined Although cigarette smoking has declined over the years in the Americas, obesity is over the years in the Americas, obesity is

on the rise.on the rise.

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Losing WeightLosing WeightIn the US, two-thirds of the women and In the US, two-thirds of the women and

half of the men say that they want to lose half of the men say that they want to lose weight. The majority of them lose money weight. The majority of them lose money

on diet programs.on diet programs.

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Alternative MedicineAlternative MedicineOther medicinal ways of achieving healthOther medicinal ways of achieving health