This topic contains a solution. Click here to go to the answer

Author Question: Discuss how psychological factors including negative cognitions affect immune system functioning. ... (Read 80 times)

robinn137

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 544
Discuss how psychological factors including negative cognitions affect immune system functioning. Give examples of physical conditions that are considered stress-related.
 
  What will be an ideal response?

Question 2

Explore the relationship between stress and the immune system. What is the HPA axis? What are stress hormones? Is there a lab test to measure stress levels in human beings?
 
  What will be an ideal response?



Related Topics

Need homework help now?

Ask unlimited questions for free

Ask a Question
Marked as best answer by a Subject Expert

tennis14576

  • Sr. Member
  • ****
  • Posts: 334
Answer to Question 1

The level of stress you are experiencing at the time seems to play a major role in whether the exposure results in a cold. Researchers found that the chance a participant would get sick was directly related to how much stress the person had experienced during the past year. They also linked the intensity of stress and negative affect at the time of exposure to the later severity of the cold, as measured by mucus production. In an interesting twist, it was demonstrated that how sociable you arethat is, the quantity and quality of your social relationshipsaffect s whether you come down with a cold when exposed to the virus, perhaps because socializing with friends relieves stress.
Almost certainly, the effect of stress on susceptibility to infections is mediated through the immune system, which protects the body from any foreign materials that may enter it. Humans under stress show clearly increased rates of infectious diseases, including colds, herpes, and mononucleosis. Direct evidence links a number of stressful situations to lowered immune system functioning, including marital discord or relationship difficulties, job loss, and the death of a loved one.

Answer to Question 2

The activity of the endocrine system increases when we are stressed, primarily through activation of the hypothalamicpituita ryadrenocortical (HPA) axis. Although a variety of neurotransmitters begin flowing in the nervous system, much attention has focused on the endocrine system's neuromodulators or neuropeptides, hormones affecting the nervous system that are secreted by the glands directly into the bloodstream. These neuromodulating hormones act much like neurotransmitters in carrying the brain's messages to various parts of the body. One of the neurohormones, corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF), is secreted by the hypothalamus and stimulates the pituitary gland. Farther down the chain of the HPA axis, the pituitary gland (along with the autonomic nervous system) activates the adrenal gland, which secretes, among other things, the hormone cortisol. Because of their close relationship to the stress response, cortisol and other related hormones are known as the stress hormones.
The hypothalamus, at the top of the brain stem, is right next to the limbic system, which contains the hippocampus and seems to control our emotional memories. The hippocampus is responsive to cortisol. When stimulated by this hormone during HPA axis activity, the hippocampus helps to turn off the stress response, completing a feedback loop between the limbic system and the various parts of the HPA axis.
This answer does not address the last part of the question regarding a lab test for stress levels.




robinn137

  • Member
  • Posts: 544
Reply 2 on: Jun 22, 2018
Thanks for the timely response, appreciate it


tkempin

  • Member
  • Posts: 332
Reply 3 on: Yesterday
Gracias!

 

Did you know?

Elderly adults are at greatest risk of stroke and myocardial infarction and have the most to gain from prophylaxis. Patients ages 60 to 80 years with blood pressures above 160/90 mm Hg should benefit from antihypertensive treatment.

Did you know?

More than 20 million Americans cite use of marijuana within the past 30 days, according to the National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH). More than 8 million admit to using it almost every day.

Did you know?

Approximately one in three babies in the United States is now delivered by cesarean section. The number of cesarean sections in the United States has risen 46% since 1996.

Did you know?

The first documented use of surgical anesthesia in the United States was in Connecticut in 1844.

Did you know?

Barbituric acid, the base material of barbiturates, was first synthesized in 1863 by Adolph von Bayer. His company later went on to synthesize aspirin for the first time, and Bayer aspirin is still a popular brand today.

For a complete list of videos, visit our video library