Module #38: Stress and Illness

_____ is the leading cause of death in the United States.

Coronary Artery Disease

Jess cannot decide whether to file her taxes or start a written assignment for one of her college courses. Neither option seems appealing. Jess is facing a(n) _____ conflict.

avoidance-avoidance

John has just finished a brutal tour of combat in Afghanistan where he saw a lot of fighting. Several of his friends were killed, but he was able to fight despite the death around him. The two stress hormones at play were _____ and _____.

cortisol; epinephrine

In the 1990s, Alanis Morissette sang that "a traffic jam when you're already late" is ironic. Although it actually may not be ironic, this situation is indeed a(n):

daily hassle.

Reeghan was diagnosed with high cholesterol which led to a heart attack at the age of 52. According to research, which of these factors increases her likelihood of having further heart problems?

depression

Li Ping lived through China's Cultural Revolution. He narrowly escaped China with his life, leaving family and friends behind to immigrate to the United States. This experience is likely to affect Li Ping:

severely

When faced with a stressor, your brain sounds an alarm and activates your _____ nervous system.

sympathetic

James is a married man who has six children and another one on the way. He has a demanding job as a cardiologist in a major research hospital. His wife, Molly, is a stay-at-home mother. He is described by friends as easygoing, happy, and content with his life. His wife is often stressed by the demands of pregnancy as well as raising six small children. She is frequently angry with James for not taking parenting more seriously. Which of these statements is MOST likely true?

Molly is more at risk for stress-related illnesses than James.

Alan reluctantly decided to take a long-awaited trip to New Zealand. The thing that is most disturbing to him is that he must leave his pet monkey behind. There is a "pet hotel" in the city that has agreed to take him. Should Alan worry about him?

Yes. Monkeys under stress due to social disruptions have weakened immune systems.

A physical and emotional response to a challenging or threatening event is called:

a stress reaction

A month ago, Jason lost his job due to circumstances beyond his control, and he is very concerned about his financial situation. Since then, he has learned that his wife will not be able to return to the United States because she cannot get her green card and that his rent-controlled apartment is being sold, so he must find another place to live. Given what happens when people feel unable to control their environment, what is MOST likely happening to Jason?

his immune response is dropping.

Destroying worn-out cells is to _____ as attacking diseased cells is to _____.

macrophages; NK cells

A stress reaction is a:

physical or emotional response