Stress response
Stress response
The stress response (pronounced: /ˈstrɛs rɪˈspɒns/) is a physiological reaction that occurs in response to a perceived harmful event, attack, or threat to survival.
Etymology
The term "stress" was borrowed from the field of physics by one of the pioneers of stress research, Hans Selye. In physics, stress describes the force that produces strain on a physical body. Selye used the term to describe an organism's response to a threatening situation.
Definition
The stress response, also known as the fight or flight response, is a complex set of reactions that mobilizes the body's resources to deal with a threat or danger. This response is characterized by the release of hormones such as adrenaline and cortisol, which prepare the body for action by increasing heart rate, blood pressure, and glucose levels.
Related Terms
- Homeostasis: The body's ability to maintain a stable internal environment in response to changes in external conditions.
- Allostasis: The process by which the body achieves stability through physiological or behavioral change.
- Stressor: Any event or environmental stimulus that triggers the stress response.
- Chronic stress: Long-term stress that persists over an extended period of time.
- Acute stress: Short-term stress that disappears quickly.
- Eustress: Positive stress that can motivate and improve performance.
- Distress: Negative stress that can cause anxiety and decrease performance.
See Also
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Stress response
- Wikipedia's article - Stress response
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