Stress And Disease Terms 1

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Stress

Back 1

The physiological response that is activated when the mind perceives a threat.

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Yerkes-Dodson Principle

Back 2

A tenet holding that a certain amount of stress is healthy, useful and even beneficial, but when stress exceeds one's ability to cope the overload contributes to diminished performance, inefficiency, and even health problems.

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Stressor

Back 3

Any event or situation that an individual perceives as a threat; precipitates either adaptation or the stress response.

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Eustress

Back 4

Positive, desirable stress that keeps life interesting and helps to motivate and inspire.

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Distress

Back 5

The negative effects of stress that drain us of energy and surpass our capacity to cope.

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Acute Stress

Back 6

Stress that results from short term stressors.

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Episodic Acute Stress

Back 7

Frequent bouts of acute stress.

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Chronic Stress

Back 8

Continuing stress provoked by unrelenting demands and pressures that go on for an extended time.

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Holistic Health

Back 9

A view of health that encompasses physical, intellectual, emotional, spiritual and social dimensions.

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Physical Health

Back 10

One of the five dimensions of health; involves the cells, tissues, organs, and systems functioning together in good working order.

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Intellectual Health

Back 11

One of the five dimensions of health, refers to the ability to think and learn from experiences, assess and question new information, and be open to new learning; also termed mental health.

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Emotional Health

Back 12

One of the five dimensions of health; involves the ability to understand feelings, accept limitations, and achieve emotional stability.

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Spiritual Health

Back 13

The result of discovering a basic purpose in life and learning how to experience love, joy, peace, and fulfillment.

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Social Health

Back 14

One of the five dimensions of health, refers to involvement with others and expressing care and concern for others.

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Technostress

Back 15

Feelings of dependence, incompetence, anxiety, and frustration associated with technology.

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Hassles

Back 16

The irritating, frustrating, or distressing incidents that accompany everyday existence.

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koyaanisqatsi

Back 17

A Hopi Indian word meaning crazy life, life in turmoil or life out of balance.

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Fight-or-Flight Response

Back 18

The body's automatic physiological response that prepares the individual to take action upon facing a perceived threat or danger.

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Homeostasis

Back 19

The body's natural state of balance or stability.

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Tend-and-Befriend Respond

Back 20

Theory proposing that females are more likely than males to respond to stressful circumstances by nurturing offspring to protect them from harm
(tending) and befriending (creating and joining social groups to exchange resources and provide protection.)

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Autonomic Nervous System

Back 21

Branch of the nervous system responsible for many functions in the body that occur involuntarily, such as digestion, heart rate, blood pressure and body temperature.

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Sympathetic Nervous System

Back 22

Branch of the autonomic nervous system responsible for initiating the fight-or-flight response each time one perceives potential danger or pain.

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Parasympathetic Nervous System

Back 23

Branch of the autonomic nervous system that returns the physiology to a state of homeostasis or balance, after the threat, danger, or potential pain is no longer perceived to be imminent.

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Hypothalamus

Back 24

Chief region of the brain for integrating sympathetic and parasympathetic activities from higher order thinking.

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Diencephalon

Back 25

Central portion of the brain, responsible for regulating emotions, among other things.

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Adrenal Glands

Back 26

Two triangle-shaped glands, one positioned on top of each kidney, from which stress hormones are secreted during the stress response.

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Epinephrine

Back 27

Also known as adrenaline, a hormone secreted by the medulla (inner portion) of the adrenal gland, which (together with norepinephrine) brings about changes in the body known as the fight-or-flight response.

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Norepinephrine

Back 28

Also known as noradrenalin, a hormone secreted by the medulla (inner portion) of the adrenal gland, which (together with epinephrine) brings about changes in the body known as the fight-or-flight response.

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Adrenal Medulla

Back 29

Inner portion of adrenal glands, where epinephrine and norepinephrine are secreted.

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Cortisol

Back 30

One of the key stress hormones released from a portion of the adrenal glands called the adrenal cortex.

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Adrenal Cortex

Back 31

Outer portion of adrenal glands.

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General Adaptation Syndrome

Back 32

Process in which the body tries to adapt to chronic stress; Consists of three stages: alarm, resistance and exhaustion.

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Relaxation

Back 33

The mind/body process of effectively moving from the stress response to a relaxed response.

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Power Nap

Back 34

A means of relaxation that combines deep breathing, mindfulness and yoga to relax and rejuvenate body and mind.