LECTURE 1/13.10.

2010 PSYCHOLOGY

STRESS AND HEALTH

[HEALTH PSYCHOLOGY Recent advances in psychological, medical, and physiological research have led to a new way of thinking about health and illness. This conceptualization, which has been labeled the biopsychosocial model, views health and illness as the product of a combination of factors including biological characteristics (e.g., genetic predisposition), behavioral factors (e.g., lifestyle, stress, health beliefs), and social conditions (e.g., cultural influences, family relationships, social support). Psychologists who strive to understand how biological, behavioral, and social factors influence health and illness are called health psychologists. The term "health psychology" is often used synonymously with the terms "behavioral medicine" and "medical psychology". Health psychologists work with many different health care professionals (e.g., physicians, dentists, nurses, physician's assistants, dietitians, social workers, pharmacists, physical and occupational therapists, and chaplains) to conduct research and provide clinical assessments and treatment services. Many health psychologists focus on prevention research and interventions designed to promote health and reduce the risk of disease.]

Stress and health-Guildelines Reading

Can suffering from too much stress make you sick? Scientists seem to think so. Stress can have a dramatic impact on the immune system. Biologically speaking, when a person suffers from prolonged or chronic stress, hormones that have an effect on the immune system are affected. There are different kinds of stress that a person can experience. Some forms of stress can even be beneficial to the body. Shorter bursts of stress that are not considered chronic or prolonged, such as the stress encountered when going on a job interview or performing in public causes your body to create adrenaline. This can improve your memory and increase your energy level. However, it is the continuous and prolonged or chronic forms of stress that can be detrimental to ones health. This kind of stress can have a great impact on the rest of your body. Most commonly, it can make a person more susceptible to stomach problems, such as constipation or diarrhea and can aggravate and make some disorders, such as ulcers, worse. Headaches are another common complaint made by people who suffer from stress. Some people have reported that stressful and pressure situations seem to trigger migraines. Stress can even affect the skin and complexion. Many have associated stress to acne breakouts and hives and research has shown that people suffering from chronic stress experience more frequent colds and upper respiratory infections. Stress can also have an impact on the body in more serious and potentially life threatening ways. Heart disease, cancer and diabetes can be linked to stress. After reading this you may be experiencing some stress yourself. You may be thinking, What is a person to do? Everyone suffers from stress of some kind at one time or another. It is not possible to eliminate it. However, it is possible to try to control it and keep yourself healthy. - One of the best tension relievers for the body is exercise. If youve had a particularly stressful day, try taking a walk or do some aerobics. In the beginning, you may not feel quite up to it but youll undoubtedly feel better afterwards and be glad you did. You could even try making a daily stress-buster routine. - Make sure youre getting enough sleep. Some people require more sleep than others but experts agree that the average amount of sleep recommended for a healthy adult is eight hours per night. Of course, everyone has had days when they feel tired and run down and have not gotten as much sleep as they needed. On these days do you feel more anxious? Do you feel pressured? Stressed? Try to ensure a good nights sleep as often as possible. - Deep breathing exercises can aid in stimulating the body and mind offering a fresh outlook on that stressful situation. Inhale through the nose and exhale through the mouth. Hold the breath for five seconds. Try to clear your mind and think of something pleasant. - Avoid too much caffeine. Try to limit your intake of coffee, tea, cola and other foods and beverages that contain caffeine and other stimulants. Do not drink coffee or tea towards the end of the day as it may impede a good nights sleep.

- Dont panic. Try to keep your problems in perspective. Is what youre stressed about still going to effect you tomorrow? Next week? Next year? If not, it may not be quite as emergent and important as you might think and fear. - Talk to your doctor. If you seem to be unable to balance things out for yourself and keep your stress under control or if you are experiencing stress-related sign or symptoms of illness see your doctor.

Reading Comprehension--Read the essay and then answer the questions.

The Effects of Stress There is a famous expression in English: "Stop the world, I want to get off!" This expression refers to a feeling of panic, or stress, that makes a person want to stop whatever they are doing, try to relax, and become calm again. 'Stress' means pressure or tension. It is one of the most common causes of health problems in modern life. Too much stress results in physical, emotional, and mental health problems.There are numerous physical effects of stress. Stress can affect the heart. It can increase the pulse rate, make the heart miss beats, and can cause high blood pressure. Stress can affect the respiratory system. It can lead to asthma. It can cause a person to breathe too fast, resulting in a loss of important carbon dioxide. Stress can affect the stomach. It can cause stomach aches and problems digesting food. These are only a few examples of the wide range of illnesses and symptoms resulting from stress. Emotions are also easily affected by stress. People suffering from stress often feel anxious. They may have panic attacks. They may feel tired all the time. When people are under stress, they often overreact to little problems. For example, a normally gentle parent under a lot of stress at work may yell at a child for dropping a glass of juice. Stress can make people angry, moody, or nervous. Long-term stress can lead to a variety of serious mental illnesses. Depression, an extreme feeling of sadness and hopelessness, can be the result of continued and increasing stress. Alcoholism and other addictions often develop as a result of overuse of alcohol or drugs to try to relieve stress. Eating disorders, such as anorexia, are sometimes caused by stress and are often made worse by stress. If stress is allowed to continue, then one's mental health is put at risk. It is obvious that stress is a serious problem. It attacks the body. It affects the emotions. Untreated, it may eventually result in mental illness. Stress has a great influence on the health and well-being of our bodies, our feelings, and our minds. So, reduce stress: stop the world and rest for a while. 1.Which of the following is not a common problem caused by stress? physical problems B. anecdotal problems C. mental problems D. emotional problems According to the essay, which of the following parts of the body does not have physical problems caused by stress. A. the arms B.the stomach C. the lungs D. the heart Which of the following show how stress can affect the emotions? A. It can make people feel nervous B. it can cause panic attacks C. it can make people feel elated D. it can make people feel angry Which of the following can result from long-term stress? Bliss, depression, alcoholism, whimsy Choose the best answer to explain how alcoholism is caused by stress. A. alcohol is used to relieve stress B. alcohol is popular C. alcohol is a chemical D. alcohol is similar to medicine

Which of the following is not caused by long-term stress? A. A. bloating B. addiction C. anorexia D. alcoholism

Choose all of the answers that can complete this sentence: Stress can affect the respiratory system by __________. A.causing stomach problems B. causing asthma C. a loss of carbon dioxide D. causing breathing problems Stress can affect the heart by __________.

A.

A.

decreasing the pulse rate B. causing asthma C. a loss of carbon dioxide D. causing breathing problems

Symptoms of emotional stress include __________. A. A. feeling joyous B. feeling hungry C. feeling thirsty D. feeling tired