Question

Questions: According to our text: What are the basic components of an emotion? What is the relationship between stress and health (give specific health outcomes associated with stress)? Given that so much of the data concerning the stress-health link are correlative, speculate on the potential causal links between stress and health (and, health and stress!). 3

Answer 1

The three basic components of an emotion are : cognition which  serves primarily to influence an evaluation of given situation, prompting the individual to become emotional in one way or another, or not at all; Feelings-they give rise to many physiological processes in the cardiovascular system and produce increased blood pressure; changes in sexual urge. They also stimulate nervous system and prompt widespread electro-chemical activities , and behavior, this component involves facial, postural, gestures and vocal responses.

Stress can trigger the body’s response to a perceived threat or danger- the fight-or-flight response. During this reaction, hormones like adrenaline and cortisol are released. This speeds the heart rate, slows digestion, shunts blood flow to major muscle groups, and changes various other autonomic nervous functions.

When the perceived threat is gone, systems are designed to return to normal function through the relaxation response. But in cases of chronic stress, the relaxation responses does not occur often enough, and being in a near-constant state of fight-or-flight can cause damage to the body.

Stress can also lead to some unhealthy habits that have a negative impact on health. For example, many people cope with stress by eating too much or by smoking. These unhealthy habits damage the body and create bigger problems in the long-term.

Even short-lived, minor stress can have an impact. We might get a stomach-ache before our oral assessment, for example. More major acute stress, whether caused by a fight with parent or an event like an earthquake or terrorist attack, can have an even bigger impact.

Serious acute stress, like being involved in a natural disaster or getting into a verbal altercation, can even trigger heart attacks, arrhythmias, and sudden death.

When stress starts interfering with ability to live a normal life for an extended period(chronic stress), it becomes even more dangerous. The longer the stress lasts, the worse it is for both mind and body. A person might feel fatigued, unable to concentrate or irritable for no good reason, for example. But chronic stress causes wear and tear on body, too.