Why Zebras Don T Get Ulcers Chapter 8 Summary

Stress has a huge impact on the immune system. The immune system is interconnected. For example the immune, nervous, and endocrine system is linked through specialized communication pathways involving hormones, neurotransmitters, neuropeptides, and immune cell productions. Stress reactions can directly affect the various response systems and how they handle the neuroendocrine-products. This stress reaction directly affects the hypothalamus and pituitary peptides through the sympathetic branch of the autonomic nervous system. Some of these stressors might be life events, anxiety, and excitements.

The video “Stress Portrait of a Killer” was enlightening. The correlation between each individual’s placement in the hierarchy and their level of stress was not surprising. In fact, it made a great deal of sense. When one is on the lower end of the spectrum, it is a reasonable to anticipate higher levels of stress than when one is at the higher end. The latter, has more control over what is happening in their lives which in turn eliminates that stress. What I found most interesting, is that stress lowers the body’s immunity. I had no idea that the brain cuts non-essential systems like the immune system when stress is present. I found this fact fascinating and rather concerning. For as long as I can remember, I have been very susceptible to

Like most college students, I could not run away from stress and I was especially stressed out this week. As it is the first week of a new quarter, I was still trying to get used to my new schedule and classes. Some of the classes I am taking seem to be challenging and it is worrying me. I am also in the honors program and I am very anxious as the deadline to submit my research proposal is coming soon. In Why Don’t Zebras Get Ulcers, the author wrote that the perception of things worsening can cause a person to be hypertensive. Hence, I think my stressors revolve mostly around the fact that I believe that the quarter will get busier and things will only get worse.

Discusses the premise that the psychological state affects the immune system with reference to the psychological state of persons with enhanced functioning immune states and those with suppressed immunity, HIV and AIDS. How stress affects the immune system; How psychological health assists the immune system; Advantages of intervention on the psyche and immune system of HIV and AIDS patients.

The following theory is based on some investigations made by Kiecolt-Glaser et al.,(1984) which is a natural experiment where researchers took blood samples twice from 75 volunteer students. One blood sample was taken before final examinations (low stress) and the other test was done during examinations (high stress). Immune functioning was assessed by measuring T cell activity in the blood. The first blood samples contained more T-cells compared with blood samples taken during their exams. This experiment proved that if we are stressed, the immune system's ability to fight against infections is reduced, because the stress hormones can decrease the effectiveness of the immune system by lowering the number of white blood cells in the blood. www.simplypsychology.org (2010)

Cortisol also partially shuts down the immune system when levels are high. It interferes with T-cell production and function, making your body more susceptible to invading pathogens. Ever notice how people who are constantly stressed are always getting sick? Or how a person can go through a major stressor and right after overcoming it

Getting sick is another negative factor of being overly stressed. Chronic stress compromises your immune system and stress hormones affect the body’s ability to fight off illness due to the fact that thymus’s ability to stimulate and coordinate the white blood cell activity.

Managing stress is an important pat of remaining healthy. Researchers have revealed that stress is an immune suppressant. It can largely contribute to both acute and chronic illnesses. Therefore, developing stress management skills is a fundamental part of preventing various illnesses, including the flu.

Although gross medical advancements have allowed the human population to live longer and fuller lives without the threat of death from infectious diseases, it is apparent that we are now dealing with a different phenomenon that may be just as harmful to our health. The impact of psychological, social and environmental factors from our daily lives is having a drastic impression on the mental and physical wellbeing of our society. It has been shown in various studies that psychological and neurological factors influence the immune system and can have an effect on our health (Breedlove, Rosenzweig & Watson, 2010). As we allow various stressors, poisonous substances, unhealthy diets and lack of rest to overwhelm our existence, we are

The main aim of the immune system is to limit and dispose any harmful waste products as well as evacuating the damaged tissues so that the body can begin healing. The body’s self-protective reaction comprises of variations in the blood stream to take in an increased discharge of fluids from the veins together with an increase of plasma, T-lymphocyte cells, proteins and phagocytes to enter the tissue so as to heal the damaged area as well as fighting off bacteria and viruses. The T and B cells are the most important cellular elements of the adaptive immune response. When a person is stressed, the ability of the immune system to attack antigens is usually reduced and one becomes more vulnerable to infections. T and B cells may play a significant neuroprotective role in both stress and inflammation. Through their

Stress can be broadly defined as any stimulus that disrupts homeostasis, with the stress response referring to physiological and behavioral reactions to such a stimulus (Selye, 1950).In vertebrates the stress response is an evolutionary conservative process mediated by the HPA axis that allows organisms to respond rapidly to unpredictable changes in their environment. It is initiated when higher brain centers perceive endogenous or exogenous noxious stimuli that threaten homeostasis and culminates in the release of glucocorticoids from the adrenal cortex. Elevated levels of circulating glucocorticoids exert a variety of catabolic, antireproductive, anti-growth, and immunosuppressive effects that mobilize and repartition under detailed organisms

boost immune defenses and overcome stress. Acute inflammatory responses are often triggered by trauma or invasive microorganisms such as bacteria and viruses, but if well-controlled these immune responses may help prevent further damage and assist in body repair processes. On the other hand, prolonged cellular stress caused by certain stimuli such as pollution, poor diet, lack of exercise and other lifestyle factors can cause chronic inflammation, which can lead to premature aging and chronic disease.

Exactly the same holds true with the human body, a system that is so basic yet at once intricate in its operation and processes. Without our body 'ss built-in system of defense against bacteria, infections, germs, viruses and other foreign bodies, our bodily organs and essential bodily functions could very well be just time bombs waiting to explode. However thanks to our immune system, our body 's critical line of defense against diseases, infections and other health conditions, we are guarded against intruders that jeopardize the daily functioning of our bodily system.

When stress is experienced, a hormone called cortisol is released in the body. Cortisol is a stress hormone that has a great impact on physical and mental health. Researchers have studied cortisol and found that cortisol is responsible for making our body’s cells stay “young” . If stressed, cortisol is used, therefore stressing the immune system, weakening/aging our cells

In the book Stress Management, there is a statement that says "when a person has many stressors every day, the body begins to wear down. It doesn't have enough time between stressors to recover... The person's immune system may weaken and fail to fight off disease and infection." (Gregson) If the average person sits down to think why there are so many physical changes on themselves, the conclusion will be brought down to one thing, stress. There may be signs ranging from sweaty palms to change in appetite and fatigue. The flight or fight system every individual’s body has determines whether their hormones say play jeopardy or escape. Eventually, those hormones will start to fail. Luckily, there are many ways to reduce stress. For someone who is anti-social or does not move around a lot and is dealing with stress, a resolution would be to get off their feet. They can exercise regularly and eat healthier