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TABLE OF CONTENTS
Introduction
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Chapter 1. The Health Effects of the Body's Stress Response

Health Psychology Student Video Activities
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The Health Effects of the Body's Stress Response

Author: Richard O. Straub

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This brief video clip begins with an overview of the everyday sources of stress experienced by a busy mother and corporate attorney, who balances the demands of family, job, technology, and even the family pet. Next, the short and long-term effects of stress are described. In response to a potential stressor, the brain signals surges of the hormones adrenaline and cortisol, which increase energy, strengthen the immune system, and even improve reflexes and memory. Chronic stress, however, can adversely affect every physiological system, accelerating aging, causing neurons to shrink, shortening the protective telomere endings of chromosomes, and making animals and people more susceptible to disease, anxiety, and depression.

1.

1. In response to stress, the brain signals the release of the hormones:

2. The short-term impact of hormones released in the stress response is to:

3. Chronic stress causes neurons in the brain to:

4. One effect of chronic stress on the body is to:

5. At a molecular level, chronic stress mimics the effects of aging by shortening the protective ________________ found at the ends of our ________________.

6. In animals, the effects of chronic stress include each of the following except:

7. When a period of chronic stress is followed by time without stress, neurons in the brain will:

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