Stress ResponseEssay Preview: Stress ResponseReport this essayAimsTo measure a range of physiological and psychological responses to both physiological and psychological ‘stress’ conditions in order to better understand the physiological significance and underlying mechanisms of ‘stress’.
IntroductionStress define as biological and psychological sciences and also refers to either physiological or psychological state. One of the example for physiological stress is temperature extreme where the body will undergo heat stress and a number of stress responses to the extreme heat in our body including perspiration and thirst. An example for psychological stress happens when sitting for final exam where the stress response can occur any time before, during or after the exam and this would increase heart rate and blood pressure and feeling of anxiety.
Stressor activates the hypothalamic pituitary adrenal (HPA) axis when stress is applied. HPA act as an important component for the stress response. During the activation of HPA, hypothalamus release corticotrophin releasing (CRF) hormone and will binds to CRF receptors on the anterior pituitary gland. The binding process on the anterior pituitary gland will then stimulates the secretion of adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH). ACTH will binds to the receptors on the adrenal cortex stimulating adrenal to release cortisol hormone. Coritsol is a type of glucocorticoid hormone where its primary hormones are responsible for stress response. The main function of cortisol is to restore homeostasis after exposure to stress. When the glucose level decreass, cortisol will counters it by increasing level of glucose through the stimulation of gluconeogenesis which synthesizes glucose from oxaloacetate. Glucose synthesis is stimulated in the liver. Cortisol will also inhibits the production of insulin in order to prevent glucose storage and favoring its immediate use. There are two glucocorticoids hormones released by the adrenal cortex are hydrocortisone and corticosterone where hydrocortisone will regulate the conversion of fats, carbohydrates and protein into energy and help to regulate our blood pressure and cardiovascular function. Corticosterone also function as regulating immune response and suppress inflammatory reactions. Mineralcorticoid consider as the main group of corticosteroid hormones are mediated by signals triggered by the kidney in which to maintain the balance of salt and water in order to control blood pressure (Greenberg, Carr & Summers 2002).
Stressor causes hypothalamus to activate adrenal medulla where it is part of the autonomic nervous system, autonomic nervous system and peripheral nervous system that will acts as a control system to maintain homeostasis in our body. The activities performed by these nervous system are controlled without conscious state. Adrenal medulla will secretes adrenaline hormone to prepare our body ready for any fight or flight response. Adrenaline will responds to stress by increasing our heart rate and blood flow to our brain and muscles. It also helps in increasing the blood sugar level by stimulating the conversion of glycogen to glucose in the liver. Adrenal medulla secretes norepinephrine hormone and it works along with epinephrine to respond to stress but norepinephrine can causes vasoconstriction that narrow blood vessels and decrease blood supply which lead to an increase in blood pressure (Tsigos & Chrousos 2002).
Risks
Exposure to environmental conditions that are stressful to the body can cause death which can seriously impact your health, health of your progeny, or even your life.
Anxiety and/or increased vulnerability to this disease will cause you to feel a little depressed during high levels of stress. Because of the increased risks, you may need to make extra daily dose adjustments to avoid anxiety disorder and increased vulnerability to the disease.
— Dr. John O. Williams, Pharm D. and M.D.
Anxiety will become worse. Stressor exposure will impair your health, and you may develop chronic diseases which can require expensive treatment — such as heart disease. Although your condition can deteriorate quickly, the risk of a stroke, heart attack or other serious medical problems, should be minimized. Also, in low-risk, low-risk environments, the risk increases with age and with a more recent history of heart disease or osteoarthritis; your current history may improve, but it is likely you will make changes to your current lifestyle as you age.
— Dr. Richard J. Bouchard, MD, M.D
The high blood pressure and elevated cortisol levels can lead to an increased susceptibility to diabetes. Stressors which cause you pain, hunger or weight gain can further increase this risk.
Common Signs
>Cardiovascular complications:
For those with hypertension such as: The high plasma cortisol level may result in a higher blood pressure, leading to a decrease in blood flow to the heart. Excessive cortisol can also lead to an increased risk of heart failure, such as heart failure, high blood pressure, or congestive heart failure to the kidneys.Heartpills.Signs include a high blood pressure as the trigger of the first symptoms of heart failure.
Material and MethodsStress response 1Materials20 10ml sterile tubes, 20 Eppendorf tubes, treatment groups (control, pain stress, exercise stress and mental stress) , labeled cuvettes and LabChart software program on the computer (connected to Powerlab physiological recording equipment)
Method4 students were each given a condition (1 student act as a control, 1 student physical stress involving cold/ pain stress- holding hand in a bucket of ice water for 5 minutes, 1 student physical stress involving exercise stress- performing vigorous ‘star jumps’ or ‘steps’ for 5 minutes, 1 student psychological stressor involving mental arithmetic and singing- singing to one group members for 5 minutes)
Equipment was hooked on each person for the measurements of the baseline measurements for 5 minutes which was connected to LabChart. For the BP and HR, 2 measurements were taken for the average. For the CORT, saliva was collected sometime during the 5 minutes period.
Each stressor condition and control condition was initiated on each student for 5 minutes. Tc, GSR and HR were recorded throughout. For BP, the measurement was taken at the end of the ‘stressor’. For CORT, saliva was collected at the end of the ‘stressor’.
Until 20minutes point, continue recording Tc, GSR and HR throughout and at 20 minutes point BP was measured and saliva was collected. At this point TC, GSR, HR and BP had returned to baseline, it was not necessary to take further readings for these measurements.
At 60 and 120 minutes time points, saliva was collected at both of these points. The control student’s saliva was collected at the same time as the student doing the 1st stressor which was cold stress. The other measurements Tc, GSR, HR and BP were made in the original order.
Stress response 2MaterialsMicrotitre plate (coated with monoclonal anti-cortisol antibodies), Wash Buffer Concentrate (10x), Assay diluents, cortisol standard, controls, cortisol enzyme conjugate, TMB substrate solution, non-specific binding wells, 5-50uL micropipette, 30-300uL multichannel micropipette, reagent reservoir pack, 3M Stop solution, falcon tube, pipette tips: yellow and white, 10mL micropipette, 450ml deionized water in 500mL Schott’s bottle, waste plastic beaker, 50mL measuring cylinder
Method1x wash buffer (500ml) was prepared by diluting wash buffer concentrate 10 fold with room temperature deionized water (50ml of 10x wash buffer to 450ml deionized water).
The plate layout was determined24mL of assay diluents was pipetted into a disposable tubeFollowing samples were pipette:-standards: 12 wells-assay diluents: 2wells (zero)-assay diluents into NSB: 2 wells-control high: 2 wells-control low: 2wells-samples: 3 wells per