Chapter 5: Homeostasis, Adaptation, and Stress

Explain homeostasis and list categories of stressors that affect homeostasis.

Homeostasis is a relatively stable state of physiologic equilibrium; it literally means "staying the same." Although it sounds contradictory, staying the same requires constant physiologic activity

Review Coping Mechanisms

*Repression-Forgetting about the stressor *Suppression-Purposely avoiding thinking about a stressor *Denial-Rejecting information *Rationalization-Relieving oneself of personal accountability by attributing responsibility to someone or something else *Displacement-Taking anger out on something or someone else who is less likely to retaliate *Regression-Behaving in a manner that is characteristic of a much younger age *Projection-Attributing that which is unacceptable in oneself onto another

Discuss therapeutic and nontherapeutic methods to manage stress

Stress-reduction techniques are methods that promote physiologic comfort and emotional well-being.Include: adequate explanations in understandable language, keeping the client and family informed, demonstrating confidence and expertise when providing nursing care, remaining calm during crises, being available to the client, responding promptly to the client's signal for assistance, encouraging family interaction, advocating on behalf of the client, and referring the client and family to organizations or people who provide postdischarge assistance. Stress-management techniques are therapeutic activities used to reestablish balance between the sympathetic and the parasympathetic nervous systems. Techniques that counter sympathetic stimulation have a calming effect; stimulating tactics counterbalance parasympathetic dominance

Identify two beliefs about the body and mind based on the concept of holism

1) both the mind and the body directly influence humans 2) the relationship between the mind and the body can potentially sustain health as well as cause illness

S/S of sympathetic and parasympathetic systems

Signs and Symptoms: -Sympathetic System: prepares the body for a fight-or-flight response. It accelerates the physiologic functions that ensure survival through enhanced strength or rapid escape. The person becomes active, aroused, and emotionally charged. -Parasympathetic System: restores equilibrium after danger is no longer apparent. It does so by inhibiting the physiologic stimulation created by its counterpart, the sympathetic nervous system. The parasympathetic nervous system, however, does not produce an opposite reaction for every sympathetic effect. For this reason, some believe that the parasympathetic nervous system offers an alternate but equally effective mechanism for responding to threats from the internal or external environment..

Discuss the s/s of stress, and stage of stress (Alarm stage, Resistance, Exhaustion)

Sings & Symptoms of Stress: - Physical: ex. rapid heart rate - Emotional: Irritable - Cognitive- Impaired attention and concentration Stages of Stress: - Alarm stage- the immediate physiologic response to a stressor "fight or flight. The SYMPATHETIC nervous system takes action - Resistance stage- physiological changes designed to restore homeostasis - Exhaustion Stage- when one or more adaptive or resisitive mechanisms are no longer able to protect the person experiencing a stressor.