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Modules 38 & 39

Modules 38 & 39. Health and Stress. Health Psychology – studies how biological, psychological and social factors influence health, illness and treatment. Biopsychosocial Model. Health Psychology Understand the relationship between Mind and Body

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Modules 38 & 39

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  1. Modules 38 & 39 Health and Stress

  2. Health Psychology – studies how biological, psychological and social factors influence health, illness and treatment. Biopsychosocial Model

  3. Health Psychology • Understand the relationship between • Mind and Body • - Educate people about health risks. • Design programs to reduce • health risks and promote • healthy behaviors.

  4. Epidemiological Studies - large number of people - Patterns (correlations) between lifestyle and health outcomes - look for risk factors of disease.

  5. Top 5 causes of Death are related to Lifestyle choices

  6. Stressors: Events or situations that are perceived as harmful, threatening, or challenging and thus trigger stress response. Stress –play role in 50% to 70 % of all physical illness. Stress is a Reaction to a Stressor.

  7. Is all stress bad? No.Neurological/physical response to threats.Motivation

  8. Catastrophes: followed by increased rates of psychological disorders such as depression and anxiety that can be long-lasting.

  9. significant life events/changes Not all Stressors are negative experiences

  10. Measuring Stress Social Readjustment Scale - any change, whether negative or positive is inherently stress producing. • not a good predictor of poor physical or mental health. • does not take into account • subjective appraisal of the event • ability to cope • Assumes event is the same for everyone

  11. Instead of asking about events we can ask about experiencing Stress

  12. Daily Hassles Scale • better predictor of physical symptoms and psychological distress. Social/cultural Stressors: poverty, low social status, discrimination

  13. Conflict as a source of Stress Approach-Approach conflict – win/win easily resolved and not too stressful Avoidance-Avoidance • people often to delay, thus avoiding either. Approach-Avoidance Vacillation People feel stuck and experience Stress and anxiety.

  14. Physiological Stress Response Triggered whenever your mind determines that you are under threat. Response is the same regardless of the type of stress!

  15. Fight-or-flight response (Cannon)—rapidly occurring chain of internal physical reactions that prepare people to either fight or take flight from an immediate threat - activates Sympathetic Nervous System (SNS)  Heart rate, BP, release of epinephrine, adrenaline, and endorphins.  Digestion Increases general arousal level and reduces concentration.

  16. Immune system: Stress Hypothalamus Muscle: Net loss of amino Acids (glucose) CRH Posterior Pituitary Gland Anterior Pituitary Gland (-) Liver: ACTH Adrenals Glucocorticoids, Catecholamines, etc.. Fat Cells: Kidney Heart rate: Increased Glucocortical Stress Hormones

  17. Stress and The Adrenal Glands

  18. Catecholamine epinephrine and norepinephrine Short term elevation (20 to 60 mins) Triggers fight or flight response Glucocorticoids Reduced inflammation and enhance tone of circulatory system. In long run they weaken important systems, lower immunity and lead to illness. Prolonged stress also linked to depression & other psychological symptoms.

  19. General Adaptation Syndrome (GAS) Stage 1. Alarm - SNS response. - good for short term stressors, but when prolonged . . . Stage 2. Resistance - prolonged period of moderate arousal - continued high levels of hormones that elevate blood sugars -- increase metabolism - increase immune response

  20. Stage 3. Exhaustion - prolonged metabolic increase decreases immune response. Immune Response Alarm Resistance Exhaustion

  21. Student Syndrome – students more likely to get sick after exam period. Burnout - psychological, physical and behavioral dysfunction in response to continuous, chronic stress.

  22. Telomeres Shortening of Telomeres normally occurs with age. Stress appears to increase the rate of shortening! Stress does age people. Presidents actually tend to live pretty long: WHY? Access to superior medical care, good education, and it takes an inherently healthy person to endure the rigors of a presidential campaign and administration.

  23. Stress and Illness Psychosomatic illness Psychophysiological Illness Psychoneuroimmunology (Mind/Body) SNS is a direct link between CNS and the physical systems of the body.

  24. Stress and the Immune System Lymphocytes – white blood cells that fight viruses and bacteria Lymphocytes have receptors for neurotransmitters and hormones AND they also produce these chemical messengers.

  25. Problems develop when the immune system is either underactive or overactive. Underactive - does not protect against disease. Overactive – Immune system may attack one’s own body tissue. • Arthritis • Allergies • Autoimmune disorders

  26. Woman have stronger immune systems than men. Also more susceptible to autoimmune disorders!

  27. Personality, Stress and Illness Type A - competitive, workaholic, impatient, quick to anger. Type B - less competitive, easy-going, less hostile Cynical Hostilityis the most predictive Type A behavior for Heart Disease.

  28. Type A individuals are more susceptible to negative effects of stress, including vulnerability to heart disease, with anger and hostility being primary factors. • Low Hostility • High Hostility

  29. How Do You Deal with Stress?

  30. Components of Stress Reactions StressorsPersonality Cognitive Appraisal Physical Response

  31. Stress Coping Techniques 1) Assess Stressors - reduce those you do not need. 2) Cognitive Appraisal - Sense of Control - Predictability - plan to cope - time management

  32. 3) Work on your reaction to Stress Optimism!! Positive outlook Explanatory Style • Explain failures as external (situational), unstable (temporary) and specific. Hardy Personality - commitment to activities - see their activities as worthwhile - see potential stressors as a challenge - sense of control

  33. 4) Social Support 5) Journal Writing

  34. Blunting Strategies Exercise Distraction Relaxation

  35. 6) Aerobic Exercise! Moderate exercise adds two years to your life! Text lists many benefits – but misses one. That physical exertion often tricks the SNS into thinking that the threat is over -- Turns off fight or flight response!

  36. 7) Distraction Taking one’s mind off problems can help when the stressor involves a waiting period (i.e., did I get the job) but if it is distracting for coping with the stress, it can make it worse!

  37. The SNS is part of the autonomic system. We do not have voluntary control over it. We do however have indirect control. Components of Relaxation Control of Breathing - changes SNS response

  38. Imagery – Nervous system responds to imagery the same way it does to reality. Calming thoughts and images activate PNS turning off Fight or flight (SNS) response. Progressive Relaxation - systematic tensing and relaxing of muscle groups

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