Can Psychological Stress Cause Physical illness?
Can Psychological Stress Cause Physical illness? Stress is a fundamental human coping mechanism for dealing with threats and adjusting to new (often sudden) changes in the demands of the environment. Fundamentally it can be described as an individual's perception of the balance between the demands placed on them and their ability to cope with those demands. Stress is supposed to engage the sympathetic-adrenal-medullary (SAM) system infrequently and in short bursts, as a survival technique. In this capacity it is highly useful and generally has no long term physiological consequences. It is only when the stress becomes chronic, being activated intensely and frequently, that problems can arise. Seyle (1973) describes the affect of prolonged stress as a three-stage process, which he calls 'General Adaptation Syndrome' (GAS). The first stage is alarm reaction, in which the fight or flight response is activated, causing blood pressure, heart rate and breathing rate to all rise to levels which cannot be maintained long term. The second stage is resistance, this is where the body attempts to compensate for these increased levels, but they remain well above normal. Finally, the exhaustion stage is suggested to see the suppression of the immune system as well as illness and possible psychological damage. Much research has established that there is a significant correlation between
The term "amphetamine" is used to refer to a largeclass of stimulants
The term "amphetamine" is used to refer to a large class of stimulants: amphetamines (black beauties, white bennies), dextroamphetamines (dexies, beans), and methamphetamines (crank, meth, crystal, speed). The different types of amphetamines have such similar chemical make-ups and effects that even experienced users may not be able to tell which drug they have taken. Source: NIDA Cocaine is a drug extracted from the leaves of the coca plant. It is a potent brain stimulant and one of the most powerfully addictive drugs. Cocaine is distributed on the street in two main forms: cocaine hydrochloride is a white crystalline powder that can be snorted or dissolved in water and injected; and "crack" is cocaine hydrochloride that has been processed with ammonia or sodium bicarbonate (baking soda) and water into a freebase cocaine. These chips, chunks, or rocks can be smoked. Cocaine may be used occasionally, daily, or in a variety of compulsive, repeated-use "binges". Regardless of how it is used, cocaine is highly addictive. Crack cocaine and injected cocaine reach the brain quickly and bring an intense and immediate high. Snorted cocaine produces a high more slowly. Cocaine can produce a surge in energy, a feeling of intense pleasure, and increased confidence. The high from snorting may last 15 to 30 minutes, while that from smoking may last 5 to 10
The major effects, mechanisms and major side effects of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and the basis of the cardiovascular benefits of aspirin
The major effects, mechanisms and major side effects of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and the basis of the cardiovascular benefits of aspirin Summary: NSAID's are used to reduce inflammation by inhibiting the production of the group of chemicals that promote inflammation. Prostaglandins are the group of chemicals that promote inflammation. They are produced by the COX-1 enzyme. Aspirin and Ibuprofen are examples of anti-inflammatory drugs. Aspirin has side effects associated with it. Examples of side effects include indigestion, heartburn and vomiting. The reason behind the indigestion side effect is because the prostaglandins are found in the stomach and when they are inhibited digestion is stopped as. An analgesic is a drug or medicine given to reduce pain without resulting in loss of consciousness. Analgesics are sometimes referred to as painkiller medications. Antipyretics cause the hypothalamus to override an interleukin-induced increase in temperature. The body will then work to lower the temperature and the result is a reduction in fever. Blood clots form when a blood vessel is damaged. A type of prostaglandin called thromboxane stimulates constriction and clotting of platelets. Conversely, PGI2, is produced to have the opposite effect on the walls of blood vessels where clots should not be forming. Ibuprofen can be used to relieve pain and inflammation caused
Control of Arterial Blood Pressure and Factors Affecting it.
Control of Arterial Blood Pressure and Factors Affecting it The mean arterial pressure is the average pressure during a given cardiac cycle that exists in the aorta and its major branches. It is dependent on cardiac output and peripheral resistance. The systolic pressure is the peak value, at about 120 mm Hg, and this falls to a minimum value of about 70 mm Hg in the diastolic pressure. The pulse pressure is the difference between these two values. The pressure falls only very slightly in the large and medium sized arteries, but the main sites of peripheral resistance are the small arteries and arterioles, and here the blood pressure falls rapidly. Pulse pressure at the ends of the arterioles is about five mm Hg. Obviously, the magnitude of this drop depends on the vasoconstriction or vasodilation of the arterioles. Gravity affects blood pressure, increasing the pressure in a vessel below the heart, and decreasing it above the heart. The increase or decrease is 0.77 mm Hg/cm, so when the mean arterial pressure is 100, the pressure in the foot would be about 180 mm Hg, and in the head a pressure of about 62 mm Hg would be found. Arterial blood pressure is a controlled factor in blood circulation. Its regulation can be acute (short-term adaptation) or chronic (long-term adaptation), and the methods which control the regulation depend on which adaptation is needed. Acute
laboratory equipment - Discuss the principles behind, and the use of - The Embedding Station - The Faxitron
Sandra Richards 01.12.02 AWPL Ass.1 Essay Discuss the principles behind, and the use of: a) The Embedding Station b) The Faxitron Introduction This essay will attempt to explain the scientific, technological principles and the practical uses of the above mentioned pieces of laboratory equipment highlighting health and safety issues where appropriate. The principle of the embedding station is to accurately and precisely orientate a histological specimen into a block of paraffin wax; this will allow the support and firm hold of the tissue sample so that fine cutting of thin sections for histological diagnostic purposes can ensue. The equipment required is the Tissue tek / R A LAMB embedding station, tissue moulds (assorted sizes) and speci-ceps heated forceps. The tissue moulds are of various sizes to allow enough embedding medium to fully surround and support the tissue sample. Heated forceps are used so that any wax coming into contact with them is kept at a molten state which can be easily removed using a paper tissue, cold wax will adhere to the forceps making it very difficult to manoeuvre tissue into the correct orientation as there would be a build up of solid wax. The wax used as the embedding medium in this particular laboratory is paraffin wax. This type of wax is molten above 60oC and is in the solid state at room temperature. Its hardness is ideal
Medical Case presentation : 57 year old Turkish female with dry cough and HA
Medical Case presentation : 57 year old Turkish female with dry cough and
I've been told my mother may have Alzheimer's disease and that it is a neurodegenerative disorder, but what does this mean?
I've been told my mother may have Alzheimer's disease and that it is a neurodegenerative disorder, but what does this mean? Alzheimer's disease is a neurodegenerative disorder, which causes the gradual loss of brain cells. Brain cells, which we take for granted everyday, gradually die in someone with Alzheimer's and make it more and more difficult for them to carry out simple daily tasks. The loss of these brain cells can be identified by the formation of plaques and neurofibrillary tangles on the brain, these can be identified by using high power scans. Plaques are small, round areas, which form when the neurons (brain cells) are lost. Neurofibrillary tangles form within the remaining neurons. Both the plaques and neurofibrillary tangles are present in the cerebral cortex and hippocampus in the brain. When Alzheimer's has developed, scans can detect it, this is due to the fact that as the neurons are lost, the brain shrinks in size. This can only be used in the later stages, as there would be no noticeable signs in the earlier stages. Diagram 1 shows the comparison of a healthy brain and brain of someone with Alzheimer's, the Alzheimer's brain is the shrunken one. There are two main types of Alzheimer's; early and late onset. Late onset is the most common form, it occurs in the elderly aged around 65-70 years old. Early onset occurs in people who are much younger, around
Describe the functions of Neurotransmitters?
Describe the functions of Neurotransmitters? Special references should be made to acetylcholine, dopamine, noradrenaline and serotonin. This essay will look at how neurotransmitters interact within the nervous system. Whilst there are over 40 neurotransmitters, for the purpose of this essay I shall focus on how the classical neurotransmitters are synthesized, their effects on human behaviour and how drugs interact within their particular synapse domain. Neurotransmitters are classified according to their chemical composition. Simon Green uses the following classification. Classical neurotransmitters, Amino acid neurotransmitters and possible transmitters or neuromodulators. Classical neurotransmitters are termed monoamines and include Acetylcholine, Noradrenaline, Dopamine and serotonin. Amino acid transmitters include Glycine, Glutamate and Gaba. The last group Green terms as possible transmitters or neuromodulators, and explains they may help regulate the release of other neurotransmitters rather than use the same transmitter principle. Neurons within the monoamine classification are named by scientists according to the neurotransmitter they use. Identified in the brain as cholinergic, noradrenergic, dopaminergic and serotonergic. These neurons use acetylcholine, noradrenaline, dopamine and serotonin. The synthesis of synaptic neurotransmitters occurs within the
Religion was a Hindrance to the Development of Medicine in the Middle Ages
Religion was a Hindrance to the Development of Medicine in the Middle Ages I partially agree with this statement because religion both hindered and help the development of medicine in the Middle Ages. Christianity and Islam belief both played a part during this time. There were many factors in which Religion helped the development of medicine. Christians and Islam's both believe that there is only one God and unlike the Greeks and the Romans who worshiped many gods and icons, they only worship one God. This was also the belief of Galen so both religions picked up his ideas and helped the development of medicine. Within both religions, medical books of Hippocrates and Galen were translated. Christians translated the work into Latin and the clergy read in Latin so they were able to understand the writings and keep alive the ideas of Galen in particular. The Muslims translated the texts into Arabic and with the Arabic spread through west and south Asia and parts of Europe it was easy to spread the information. In this, more people were able to learn about medicine and this helped the development. Both religions taught that each person should take care of the sick and build hospitals. This encouraged people to help others and saw the general people learning more about medicine to try to heal people so helped medicine. The Islam's adopted Hippocrates way of observation and
Assess the impact of disrupted biological rhythms
Faye Johnson 13.6 Assess the impact of disrupted biological rhythms: The human body has the ability to adapt to changes or zeitgebers, as long as the changes occur gradually. When fast changes in zeitgebers occur the human bodily rhythms cannot adjust fast enough, this causes ill effects, 'internal desychronisation' One example of internal desychronisation is shift work. Shift work is defined as regular employed work outside the normal working day 7am- 6pm. Research in to shift work says that it is both physically and psychologically damaging to peoples health to frequently suffer from internal desychronisation (Aschoff and Weaver). This is said to be because shift workers are being forced to adjust their natural sleep wake cycle to fit their schedules. Symptoms of internal desychronisation include, fatigue, headaches, impaired reaction time, and irritability. The effects on shift workers are important because of the high percentage of people that work shifts, 20% of people in the U.S work shifts. In today society it would be impossible to live with out shift workers, such as health workers, and industry workers. Records show that more accidents happen at night than any other time. For example human errors of shift works at Chernobyl, which happened at 1.28 am. Also Three Mile Island happened at 4am these human could have possibly been avoided if more was known about shift