Individual Systems within the Body Sample Assignment
Individual Systems within the Body
Nervous System
- Overall executive management of other systems & communicates orders to coordinate other activities
- Effects our memory, concentration, learning caused by stress response
Endocrine System
- Works in partner with nervous system to control functions
- Chronics stress can increase risk for developing diabetes
Circulatory & Cardiovascular Systems
- Transport nutrients, waste & other chemical messengers within & out of the body
- Stress can cause structure of vessels to break down and become weaker
- The vessels are now more susceptible to plaque build up (atherosclerosis) put us at risk for heart disease
Respiratory System
- Provides oxygen & nourishments to body cells
- Stress can trigger asthma attacks
Immune System
- Provides defense against invaders
- Chronic stress causes our immune system to become weaker
- Weaker immune system increases our risk of getting sick
- Can increase cancer risk
Musculoskeletal System (including skin)
- Provides support & movement for body
- Stress can cause more joint pain, tension headaches
- Can cause skin disorder breakouts (acne, scoriosis, eczema)
Digestive System
- Processes food sources & converts them into usable energy
- Gets put on hold during stress response
- Stress related diseases include irritable bowel syndrome, peptic ulcers, inflammatory bowel disease
- Eating disorders are more prevalent for people under more stress (coping mechanism for stress)
Reproductive System
- Concerned with Sexual Function & reproduction
- Chronic stress can effect fertility (effects hypothalamus which produces reproductive hormones), premenstrual syndrome is made worse by stress, diminished sexual function in both males & females
Stress response starts from external sources
- It is triggered by our senses to the external sources (environment)
- Our senses can become desensitized over time
Stress Management is instrumental in preventing these disease
- Diseases of Arousal: Any type of illness that has a direct link to stress
Stress is related to a hormonal or inflammatory response to any of the stress-related diseases
Disease that are exacerbated by stress
- High blood pressure
- Multiple sclerosis
- Alzheimer’s disease
- AIDS
- Anorexia
- Allergies
- Fibromyalgia
- Arthritis
- Pre-mature aging
- Depression
- Obesity
- Herpes (fever blisters)
How Systems Respond to Stress
- Circulatory System (Cardiovascular &)
- Heart rate & blood pressure increase instantaneously due to stress response
- Breathing becomes more rapid; lungs take in more oxygen
- Spleen discharges red & white blood cells when stress response is initiated
- Blood flow increases anywhere from 300-400%
- Immune System
- Steroid hormones secreted will reduce activity in parts of immune system
- White blood cells are reduced
- Takes other immune molecules and repositions them to skin & lymph nodes
- Gastrointestinal
- Fluid involved in those systems are diverted from non-essential to essential locations
- Causes dryness in mouth (decreased saliva), difficulty swallowing & talking
- Esophagus can have spastic contractions which interferes with swallowing
- No hunger, stomach pains
- Increases in secretion of hydrochloric acid (acid reflux)
- Alterations in peristalsis within intestines
- Can cause diarrhea or constipation (to fast or to slow)
- Skin Response
- Move blood flow away from skin and divert it towards the heart & muscle tissue
- Reduces blood loss if you are cut
- Cool, clammy skin is side effect
- Scalp can actually tighten up and feel like hair is standing up (hair on back of neck standing up)
- Muscular System
- Muscles stay in contracted state
- Continuously stressed muscles
- Unconscious postures & movements
- Brain Response
- Short-term memory is impacted
- Wave-pattern of electrical activity is impacted
- Effects memory, concentration, focus, short-term memory
