In: Biology
Many students feel stressed when formal tests are being written, even if they have studied. Describe the changes that take place in the body as a result of this stress, and the nervous or hormonal factor causing each change. What suggestions could you offer to overcome these feeling of stress.
Examination stress is due to sympathetic nerve stimulation and hormones of adrenal gland such as epinephrine and cortisol.
Muscle tension, indigestion, sleeplessness.palpitations, higher blood pressure, frequent urination, faster breathing, diarrhoea, inability to concentrate, forgetful ness, irritability are some of the affects observed due to stress.
Sympathetic nerve fibers supplying to the SA node of the heart get stimulated. This stimulation increases the heart rate and also strength of the heart beat. Blood pressure also increases due to sympathetic stimulation of the blood vessels especially arteries. Faster breathing rate is also due to sympathetic stimulation of the respiratory system.
Indigestion is due to stress hormone such as epinephrine. The stress hormones will stimulate the brain to divert the blood to muscles to meet any eventuality. So the gut receives less blood supply. This affects the digestion and absorption resulting in indigestion.
Frequent urination is due to secretion of epinephrine by adrenal medulla. This increases over all urine output by increasing blood pressure . Sleeplessness is due to the stress hormone cortisol. It is the hormone which keeps you alert to meet any consequences or dangers. So excess secretion of this hormone keeps a person awake. That is why person does not get sleep due to examination fear. Stress hormones epinephrine and cortisol will also affect the memmory and concentration of the individual.