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TOPIC 4STRESS, PSYCHOLOGICAL

FACTORS AND HEALTH

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Introduction Stress

- the pressure or demand that is placed upon an organism to adapt or adjust

Stressor- a source of stress

Distress- a state of physical or mental pain or suffering

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Adjustment Disorders

Is a maladaptive reaction to an identified stressor that develops within a few months of the onset of the stressor

Adjustment disorder is characterized by significant impairment in social, occupational, or academic functioning

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Stress and Illness

Stress increases the risk of various types of physical illness

Psychoneuroimmunology

studies relationships between psychological factors and the working of endocrine system, the immune system and the nervous system

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Stress and Life Changes

The General Adaptation Syndrome (GAS)

- To describe a common biological response pattern to prolonged or excessive stress

- 3 stages

1. alarm reaction

- fight or flight reaction

2. resistance stage

3. exhaustion stage

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There are six major adjustment disorders:

Adjustment disorder with depressed mood; Adjustment disorder with anxiety; Adjustment disorder with mixed anxiety and

depressed mood; Adjustment disorder with disturbance of

conduct; Adjustment disorder with mixed

disturbance of emotions and conduct; Adjustment disorder unspecified.

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A person with an adjustment disorder with depressed mood may have mostly a depressed mood, hopeless feelings, and crying spells.

A person with an adjustment disorder with anxiety would experience anxious feelings, nervousness, and worry.

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Someone with an adjustment disorder with mixed anxiety and depressed mood would, obviously, have a mixture of anxious and depressed feelings.

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An individual with an adjustment disorder with disturbance of conduct may act out inappropriately. This person may act out against society, skip school, or begin to have trouble with the police.

A person with an adjustment disorder with mixed disturbance of emotions and conduct would have a mixture of emotional and conduct problems.

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A Multifactorial View of Health and Illness

Biological Factor

Psychological Factors

- Self-Efficacy Expectancies

- Psychological Hardiness

- Optimism

- Humor

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Socioeconomic, Sociocultural, and Ethnic Factors

- Social Support

Natural Environmental Factors

Technological Factors

Psychological Factors and Physical Disorders

Headaches

Cardiovascular Disease

Asthma

Cancer

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS)

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Your heart is an amazing powerhouse that pumps andcirculates 5 or 6 gallons of blood each minute through

your entire body.

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Heart disease begins when cholesterol, fatty material, and

calcium build up in the arteries, a process known as

atherosclerosis.

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Some of the risk factors for heart disease include smoking,

high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes, and

obesity.

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Additional heart disease risk factors include lack ofexercise, an unhealthy diet, and stress

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One of the most devastating consequences

of heart disease can be sudden cardiac arrest.

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Besides chest pain (angina) and shortness of breath, some other common symptoms of heart disease include jaw

pain, back pain, and heart palpitations.

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Other symptoms of heart disease may include dizziness,weakness, irregular heartbeat, nausea, and abdominal

pain.