Question

how does stress affect the nervous system, endocrine system, and immune system? give a specific example of stress not just "stress".

Answer 1

Stress is the body's reaction to any change that requires an adjustment or response.

Body copes with stress by adjusting the vitals of the body.

Stress affects the nervous system of human. Control system of our body is ANS(Autonomic nervous system). It is responsible for regulating all of our unconscious bodily functions including our heart rate, digestion, respiratory rate, urination and sexual arousal. It is divided between two systems; the sympathetic nervous system (SNS) and the parasympathetic nervous system (PNS). Sympathetic nervous system is responsible for fight or flight response which is important for our survival.

Under stress condition, our brain triggers release of cortisols in the body which in turns triggers the sympathetic nervous system of our body that results in increase heart rate, increase blood pressureand rise in blood glucose level. Also, cortisol travels into the brain and binds itself to the receptors inside neurons. This encourages the neurons to admit more calcium and this over-load of calcium causes the neurons to over-excite, fire too frequently and die off.

Stress also affects body's endocrine function.

Under stress condition, hypothalamus signals the pituitory to release adrenocorticotropic hormone which triggers the adrenal gland to release cortisol. Cortisol increases the level of energy in the body by mobilizing glucose and fatty acids from the liver.

Immune system is also affected by the stress. Long term stress lead to release of cortisol in the body. High level of cortisol results in developing inflammatory and autoimmune disorders. Cortisol inhibits the release of histamine which recruits white blood cells to fight infection.