The extended release of cortisol, which is a common result of chronic or prolonged stress, can be detrimental to an individual's health. A primary harmful effect of sustained high levels of cortisol is the significant weakening of the body's immune system.

Harmful Effects of Prolonged Cortisol Exposure

Sustained high blood pressure, often resulting from significant and prolonged stress such as job strain, can inflict damage on the heart over time. This chronic strain can create conditions that lead to severe cardiovascular events like a heart attack or heart failure.

Example of Wear and Tear: Chronic Stress and Heart Disease

When the body's stress response remains active for extended periods or frequently operates beyond normal limits, it can lead to cumulative damage. This concept of 'wear and tear' is analogous to how an air conditioner deteriorates from being run constantly at its highest setting.

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The stress response is a complex and coordinated set of physiological reactions that the body activates when needed. These reactions are adaptive, preparing an individual to cope with situations perceived as dangerous or threatening.

Stress Response

Spielman, R. M., Jenkins, W. J., & Lovett, M. D. (2020, April 22). Psychology (2nd ed.). OpenStax. https://openstax.org/books/psychology-2e/pages/1-introduction

OpenStax Psychology (2nd ed.) Textbook

While the stress response is adaptive for brief threats, it is not meant to withstand long-term, perpetual threats.  When this happens, poor health outcomes like hypertension can occur.  Systems of oppression are an example of a more perpetual threat.  Thus, systems of oppression are linked to poor health outcomes.  An example of this is over-policing in lower income neighborhoods being correlated with hypertension in African Americans, or workplace sexism being related to incidence of breast cancer in women. 

Stress response and poor health outcomes

The body's physiological reaction to stress is complex, primarily orchestrated by two major systems: the sympathetic nervous system (SNS) and the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis. The SNS provides a rapid response to a perceived threat, while the HPA axis, being endocrine-based, reacts more slowly.

Key Physiological Systems in the Stress Response

In brief episodes, the physiological stress response can be beneficial, providing the body with extra energy, temporarily improving immune system function, and decreasing sensitivity to pain.

Short-Term Favorable Effects of the Stress Response

Cumulative Wear and Tear from Chronic Stress

Cardiovascular disorders, which affect the heart and blood circulation system, are serious medical conditions that are central to the study of psychophysiological health. Extensive research has consistently demonstrated a strong link between these disorders and psychological factors, showing they are significantly influenced by stress and negative emotions like anger, negative affectivity, and depression.

Cardiovascular Disorders

Read the two scenarios below. Analyze how the body's physiological stress response, which is designed to be adaptive, functions in each situation. Explain why this response is highly beneficial in Scenario A but can become problematic in Scenario B.

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