A01 - the role of stress in illness

• cardiovascular disorders - any disorders of the heart and circulatory system
• examples of CVD's - coronary heart disease , high blood pressure
• stress actives the sympathetic branch of the autonomic nervous system (ANS) leading to production of adrenaline and noradrenaline
• high levels of adrenaline has these effects:

  • increased heart rate, causing heart to be damaged in long term
  • vasoconstriction
  • atherosclerosis
• vasoconstriction - narrowing of blood vessels to reduce blood flow to the skin
• atherosclerosis - plaque builds-up in artery walls and on blood vessels
• Wilbert-Lampen et al (2008) aim - investigated whether stress is linked to CVD'S
• Wilbert-Lampen et al (2008) procedure - looked at frequency of heart attacks during football matches played in Germany during 1996 World Cup, sudden emotional arousal deemed to be acute stressor
• Wilbert-Lampen et al (2008) findings - on days Germany played, cardiac emergencies increased by 2.66 times compared with other times
• Wilbert-Lampen et al (2008) conclusion - arousal of sympathetic branch of ANS is linked to CVD's
• when stressed, hypothalamic pituitary-adrenal system produces cortisol , which causes immunosuppression
• immunosuppression - immune system is less able to fight off potentially harmful viruses, bacteria and other pathogens
• stress has indirect effect on immune system because people under stress are more likely to engage in behaviours that have a negative impact on immune system functioning
• Kiecolt-Glaser et al (1984) aim - investigated whether stress of important exams had impact on immune system functioning
• Kiecolt-Glaser et al (1984) procedure - natural experiment involved taking 2 blood samples from 75 first-year med students, one a month before exams and one on the day of first exam. Measured natural killer (NK) activity as indiciation on immune system functioning. Also asked to complete questionnare to measure other stressors and loneliness scale to assess social support network
• Kiecolt-Glaser et al (1984) findings - found immune system functioning was reduced following stressful exam as NK activity reduced, immune systems especially weak in students experiencing stressful events and were lonely
• Kiecolt-Glaser et al (1984) conclusions - short-term , predictable stressors reduce immune system functioning, increasing vulnerability to illness