Stress

Stress Silvia Irina Briganti Matteo Paolucci

What is stress and how can we define it? Stress is a condition of alarm characterized by an excessive and persistent request of psychological and physical energies that an individual has to invest to realize his objectives or to do his duties

In psychology, stress is considered as an adaptive reaction, connected to emotions and responsible of changes in physiological regulation, conscience and everyday life behaviour, in front of situations of emergency or serious danger

Eustress & Distress ! " Eustress is a “positive” stress, temporary and

necessary to preserve human life; ! " Distress is “negative” stress, prolonged and

harmful for both human body and mind

Physiology vs stress

Two endocrine response systems are reactive to psychological stress: the hypotalamic-pituitaryadrenocortical axis (HPA) and the sympatheticadrenal-medullary (SAM) system

Hypotalamic-pituitaryadrenocortical axis Cortisol, the primary effective hormone of HPA, regulates a great range of physiological processes, like inflammatory responses, metabolism of macromolecules (proteins, lipids...) and gluconeogenesis

Sympathetic-adrenal-medullary system Catecholamines, released after SAM activation, work with autonomic nervous system to control cardiovascular and immune systems, liver, lungs and skeletal muscles

Prolonged activation of HPA and SAM produced by stress can have serious effects on health: clinical depression, human immunodeficiency (HIV), cancer, hypertension, infectious and coronary arterie deseases etc

Immune system is vulnerable more than the others: it can be struck directly, through the innervation of lymphatic tissue, wich carries immune cells, or indirectly, through the release of HPA and SAM hormones, wich alter immune cell functions

Stressors

Common factors of stress •"

Physical stressors Illness, disabilities…

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Enviromental stressors Poverty, natural disasters, noise…

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Life situations Events, responsabilities, social and financial problems, relationships…

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Behaviors Habits, lifestyle, certain patterns of thinking…

Levels of stressors Distress

Eustress

Emotional states Physical symptoms

Signs & symptoms

Symptoms are various and individuals; is possible to find out 3 levels of symptoms correlated with the increasing of stress level

Inner emotional state Outward appearance Physical effects

Anxiousness, nervousness, distraction, excessive worry, internal pressure Distracted, self-assorbed, irritable Excessive fatigue, depression, headaches, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, chest pain, heart racing, dizziness or flushing, tremolousness or restleness

Does Stress cause diseases?

Stressful events & diseases High and persistant stress level

Direct Effects Other Pathways

Hyperactivation of HPA & SAM

Behaviors •" Increased smoking •" Decreased exercise •" Descreased sleep

•"Poorer adherence to medical regimens

Review “Psychological stress and diseases” 10/2007

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Clinical depression

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Cardiovascular disease (CVD)

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Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)/AIDS

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Cancer

Review “Psychological stress and diseases” 10/2007

Depression Role of stress

++

CVD

HIV/AIDS ++

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Upper respiratory tract infections

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Asthma

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Herpes viral infections

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Autoimmune diseases

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Wound healing

++

Cancer ?

Stress treatments

First step: identification of the source of stress •"

What type of stressors? •" Illness can lead to stress •" Emotional stress can lead to illness !" friends, family, spiritual advisers !" doctor (interview, lab tests, ECG)

! Is there need of a medical treatment?

Self-Care at home ! " Remove yourself from the source of your stress •" •" •" •"

Physically Mentally ! time-out Relax Formulate a plane for dealing with the problem

Medical treatment ! " Stress affects you as an individual: everyone reacts in

different ways

! " The treatment of your stress will vary greatly depending on

the types of symptoms you are experiencing and how severe they are

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In case of psycho-somatic disease, is reccomened a counseling by qualified mental health professionals In case of physical disease, medical intervention can consist in a pharmacological treatment •" •"

Direct to the general perception (benzodiazepine, ephedrine) Direct to the specific symptom

Prevention stress management •"

Set realistic goals and limit yourself

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Put things into perspective and try not to get upset about insignificant or relatively unimportant matters

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Find activities that you enjoy and set aside time to participate them on a regular basis

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Participate in regular physical exercise

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Mantain a positive outlook

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Set goals and break them into easily achievable tasks

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Manage your time

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Reward yourself for the good things that you do each day

Thanks & Relax!