Answer to Question 1
During the fight-or-flight response, the adrenal glands release glucocorticoids such as cortisol that help us rapidly facilitate the conversion of food stores such as proteins and fats in the body to glucose for ready energy. In a primitive state of nature, this has adaptive value in that it helps protect us from danger by making energy stores immediately available and ready where and when needed most.
Answer to Question 2
Stress and health is a two-way street. As you will see in subsequent chapters, when under stress, we are more prone to engage in adverse health behaviors such as smoking, drinking or eating too much and paradoxically may experience disruptions in our ability to initiate or maintain health protective behaviors such as healthy eating, engaging in regular physical activity, and using relaxation strategies. The result is that we experience diminished health and well-being, which can in turn create a new set of stressors. It becomes a vicious cycle with stress contributing to poor health and poor health contributing to stress. The most effective way to manage stress is to manage lifestyle and complement it with specific stress busting strategies.
Male Asiatic Lion after a recent fight
Dose-Response Curves for Morphine
The thyroid and parathyroid glands.
Mumps swelling of the salivary glands.
Dose-response curve with threshold
Fight BAC