Short Term Stress vs Long Term Stress

Summary

The transcript explains the physiological differences between short-term (acute) and long-term (chronic) stress. It details how short-term stress activates the adrenal medulla, leading to the release of catecholamines like epinephrine, triggering a sympathetic response (e.g., increased heart rate, blood pressure). Long-term stress involves the adrenal cortex, releasing hormones like cortisol and aldosterone. Cortisol increases blood sugar, suppresses the immune system, and promotes bone degeneration, while aldosterone regulates sodium and potassium levels, impacting fluid retention and blood pressure. The focus is on the distinct hormonal pathways activated by different types of stress.

Takeaways

• 🧬 Stress can be categorized into short-term (acute) and long-term (chronic) stress, which have different physiological impacts on the body.
• 🔍 Short-term stress primarily involves the adrenal medulla, which secretes catecholamines like epinephrine, norepinephrine, and acetylcholine to trigger a sympathetic response.
• 💓 The sympathetic response to short-term stress includes increased heart rate, blood pressure, bronchodilation, vasoconstriction in the digestive system, and dilation in the skeletal system.
• 👁️‍🗨️ Long-term stress affects the adrenal cortex, leading to the release of hormones like cortisol, which is a glucocorticoid with anti-inflammatory and immunosuppressant effects.
• 🩸 Cortisol increases blood sugar to provide energy for the brain during stress, but chronically can lead to bone degeneration due to its impact on connective tissue.
• 🌡️ Mineral corticoids, such as aldosterone, are also released during long-term stress, regulating sodium and potassium levels, which can affect blood volume and blood pressure.
• 🚫 Chronic stress can increase susceptibility to secondary infections like colds or flu due to cortisol's immunosuppressant properties.
• 🧠 The brain is considered the most important organ during stress responses, as it requires glucose for metabolism and is protected by the body's stress response mechanisms.
• 💧 Changes in osmolarity due to aldosterone can lead to fluid retention, increasing blood volume and potentially causing high blood pressure.
• 🔄 The distinction between short-term and long-term stress lies in the types of hormones secreted and their effects on the body's physiological systems.

Q & A

What are the two types of stress responses discussed in the script?

The script discusses short-term stress, also known as acute stress, and long-term stress, also referred to as chronic stress.

How does stress affect the body's physiology?

Stress affects the body's physiology by altering hormone concentrations, which in turn activate various physiological pathways.

What is the role of the adrenal glands in stress responses?

The adrenal glands secrete endocrine hormones in response to stress. They have two main regions: the medulla, which secretes catecholamines during short-term stress, and the cortex, which secretes steroids during long-term stress.

What are catecholamines and which hormones are included in this category?

Catecholamines are amino acid-derived hormones that include epinephrine, norepinephrine, and acetylcholine. They are secreted by the adrenal medulla during short-term stress.

What physiological changes occur during a short-term stress response?

During short-term stress, there is an increase in heart rate, blood pressure, bronchodilation, vasoconstriction in the digestive system with blood flow redirection to the skeletal muscles, and pupil dilation.

What triggers the secretion of catecholamines during short-term stress?

The secretion of catecholamines is triggered by sympathetic activity generated from preganglionic sympathetic neurons coming from the central nervous system.

How does long-term stress differ from short-term stress in terms of the hormones involved?

Long-term stress involves the adrenal cortex, which secretes glucocorticoids and mineral corticoids, unlike short-term stress which involves catecholamines from the adrenal medulla.

What is the primary function of cortisol, a glucocorticoid hormone released during long-term stress?

Cortisol, a glucocorticoid, has anti-inflammatory and immunosuppressant effects, increases blood sugar, and can lead to bone degeneration when released in high amounts over time.

What is aldosterone and what does it do in the body?

Aldosterone is a mineral corticoid that regulates mineral balance by increasing sodium reabsorption and potassium secretion, which can affect blood volume, blood pressure, and fluid balance.

What are the potential health implications of chronically high levels of cortisol?

Chronically high levels of cortisol can lead to increased susceptibility to infections, elevated blood sugar, and bone degeneration due to its anti-inflammatory, immunosuppressant, and glucocorticoid properties.

How does the body's response to stress aim to protect the brain during a stress response?

The body's stress response aims to protect the brain by increasing blood sugar levels through the action of glucocorticoids like cortisol, as glucose is a primary metabolite needed by the brain.

Outlines

00:00

🧠 Physiological Changes in Response to Stress: Short-Term vs. Long-Term

This paragraph introduces the physiological differences between short-term (acute) and long-term (chronic) stress, emphasizing the role of hormones in stress responses. Short-term stress triggers the adrenal medulla to release catecholamines (like epinephrine and norepinephrine), leading to physiological changes such as increased heart rate, blood pressure, bronchodilation, and redistribution of blood flow to muscles. The response is driven by preganglionic sympathetic neurons. In contrast, chronic stress activates the adrenal cortex, releasing different hormones to cope with prolonged stress.

05:02

🔄 Chronic Stress: Hormonal Effects on the Body

The second paragraph explains the hormonal impact of chronic stress, particularly the release of glucocorticoids (like cortisol) and mineralocorticoids (like aldosterone) from the adrenal cortex. Cortisol acts as an anti-inflammatory and immunosuppressant, while also raising blood sugar levels to supply energy to the brain. Aldosterone helps regulate sodium and potassium levels, leading to increased blood volume and elevated blood pressure. The paragraph highlights the physiological consequences of prolonged exposure to these hormones, such as bone degeneration and susceptibility to infections.

Keywords

💡Acute Stress

Acute stress, also known as short-term stress, refers to the immediate response of the body to a stressor. It involves the adrenal medulla, which releases catecholamines like epinephrine and norepinephrine. These hormones trigger the 'fight or flight' response, leading to increased heart rate, blood pressure, and bronchodilation. This is a key part of the body's sympathetic response to immediate threats.

💡Chronic Stress

Chronic stress, or long-term stress, involves the adrenal cortex and the release of hormones such as cortisol and aldosterone. Over time, this prolonged stress response can lead to negative health effects, including inflammation, bone degeneration, and suppressed immune function. Chronic stress is contrasted with acute stress in the video, emphasizing its lasting impact on the body.

💡Adrenal Glands

The adrenal glands are small glands located on top of the kidneys that play a crucial role in stress responses by releasing hormones. The adrenal medulla is responsible for secreting catecholamines during acute stress, while the adrenal cortex releases corticosteroids, such as cortisol, during chronic stress. These glands are central to the body's ability to handle stress, as explained in the video.

💡Catecholamines

Catecholamines are hormones produced by the adrenal medulla during short-term stress. The primary catecholamines mentioned in the video include epinephrine (adrenaline), norepinephrine, and acetylcholine. These hormones prepare the body for a 'fight or flight' response by increasing heart rate, blood pressure, and redirecting blood flow from the digestive system to skeletal muscles.

💡Sympathetic Response

The sympathetic response, also known as the 'fight or flight' response, is the body's immediate reaction to acute stress. This response is triggered by the release of catecholamines and leads to physiological changes such as increased heart rate, bronchodilation, and vasoconstriction in the digestive system. The video explains this as a way the body prepares for immediate danger or exertion.

💡Glucocorticoids

Glucocorticoids are a class of steroid hormones released by the adrenal cortex during chronic stress. Cortisol is the primary glucocorticoid mentioned in the video. It helps the body manage long-term stress by increasing blood sugar levels, reducing inflammation, and suppressing the immune system, which is why people under chronic stress are more susceptible to illnesses like colds or the flu.

💡Cortisol

Cortisol is a glucocorticoid hormone released during chronic stress that plays a key role in regulating metabolism, immune responses, and blood sugar levels. In the video, cortisol is explained as both an anti-inflammatory and an immunosuppressant, which can lead to secondary infections when stress is prolonged. It also supports brain function by ensuring a steady supply of glucose to the brain.

💡Mineralocorticoids

Mineralocorticoids are hormones that regulate the balance of minerals like sodium and potassium in the body. Aldosterone is the primary mineralocorticoid discussed in the video. It increases sodium reabsorption and potassium secretion, which leads to fluid retention and higher blood pressure. This process is important in maintaining blood volume and pressure, especially during chronic stress.

💡Aldosterone

Aldosterone is a mineralocorticoid hormone that regulates the balance of sodium and potassium in the blood. During chronic stress, aldosterone increases sodium reabsorption in the kidneys, which raises blood pressure and blood volume. The video highlights this as part of the long-term physiological changes the body undergoes under stress.

💡Vasoconstriction

Vasoconstriction refers to the narrowing of blood vessels, which increases blood pressure. During acute stress, vasoconstriction occurs in the digestive system, redirecting blood to the skeletal muscles for quick action. This is part of the body's sympathetic response, enabling it to prioritize essential functions for survival during short-term stress.

Highlights

Short-term stress is referred to as acute stress, while long-term stress is known as chronic stress.

Stress responses, whether emotional, mental, or physical, cause physiological changes by altering hormone concentrations.

The adrenal glands, located atop the kidneys, play a crucial role in stress by secreting endocrine hormones.

Catecholamines, such as epinephrine, norepinephrine, and acetylcholine, are released from the adrenal medulla during short-term stress.

Short-term stress triggers a sympathetic response, increasing heart rate, blood pressure, and bronchodilation.

Vasoconstriction in the digestive system redirects blood flow to the skeletal muscles during short-term stress.

Pupils dilate as a result of catecholamine secretion during short-term stress responses.

Sympathetic activity from preganglionic neurons in the central nervous system triggers the adrenal medulla's response.

Long-term stress involves the adrenal cortex, which secretes different hormones compared to short-term stress.

Glucocorticoids, such as cortisol, are released in response to long-term stress and have anti-inflammatory and immunosuppressant effects.

Cortisol increases blood sugar levels to provide the brain with necessary glucose during stress.

Long-term stress can lead to bone degeneration due to the anti-inflammatory effects of glucocorticoids.

Mineral corticoids, like aldosterone, regulate sodium and potassium levels, affecting blood volume and blood pressure.

Aldosterone increases sodium reabsorption and potassium secretion, impacting osmolarity and fluid balance.

The distinction between short-term and long-term stress lies in the types of hormones secreted by the adrenal glands.

Short-term stress is characterized by the release of catecholamines for immediate physiological changes.

Long-term stress affects the adrenal cortex, leading to the secretion of glucocorticoids and mineral corticoids.

Transcripts

all right so now we're gonna look at

short-term stress and long term stress

in compared to based off of their

physiological changes right so another

way of writing short-term is acute and

other way around long term its chronic

stress right and so what causes these

these problems what causes these

problems right so any kind of stress

response any kind of trauma emotional

whether it's emotional mental physical

it creates this change in the actual

physiology of your body by changing a

lot of hormone concentrations right so

certain hormones are released during

stress responses which activate

physiological pathways right when we

think about short-term versus long-term

we're comparing a different regions of

the adrenal glands right so adrenal

glands are basically the beanies of your

of your kidneys and their main function

is to secrete certain kind of endocrine

hormones right you have two different

sets you have the catecholamines which

are secreted from the medulla and then

you have the steroids the the steroids

that are secreted from deep cortex in

thinking about short-term stress

short-term stress involves your adrenal

medulla so when I said before what is

the medulla inside or outside this is

the outside right and the adrenal

medulla is responsible for the secretion

of the catecholamines so we have the

catecholamine so what our catecholamines

are like well what is that it doesn't

make sense I've never heard that word

before catecholamines examples are these

amino acid derived hormones for example

epinephrine norepinephrine acetylcholine

so epinephrine norepinephrine and

acetylcholine and their main function

once secreted during a short term stress

response is changing the physiology body

into a sympathetic response so we think

about sympathetic response what are we

thinking about what is the physiological

changes you have increased heart rate

you have increased blood pressure what

else happens what else happens you have

increased bronchodilation right your

lungs become open you have

vasoconstriction and dilation of

different parts of your body so increase

the vasoconstriction where where does it

constrict so it constricts in the

digestive system and all the blood moves

into the the skeletal system so in the

digestive and then you have for example

the vasoconstriction right so vessel

dilation in the skeletal system right

another have you have increased your

pupils became bigger all right so this

all of these happen due to these

different hormones that are secreted

from the adrenal medulla right and what

triggers this so it's a sympathetic

activity so it's generated from these

Priene ganglionic neurons right so these

free green ganglia on its sympathetic

fibers that are basically coming in from

the central nervous system so you have

the sympathy the preganglionic

sympathetic fibers or neurons you can

call them doesn't matter that come in

and generate this response right so

during short term stress long term

stress is different now all right so

this has been happening consistently

consistently so what happens now in your

hypothalamus your hypothalamus then

begins to trigger certain releases of

hormones of your adrenal cortex so

long-term or chronic stress involves the

adrenal cortex and so what's in our

cortex majority of the cases that we've

seen before

well involving with stress we can talk

about the mineral corticoids that

glucocorticoids in the ganado corticoids

specifically here two hormones are

released here

we have the glucocorticoid so what is

the glucocorticoid what's an example of

that do you remember it's an example of

a glucocorticoid cortisol and what does

cortisol do

what does cortisol is main function if

we were to write it here increase so

it's an anti-inflammatory so it

decreases inflammation what else does it

do it also is also an immunosuppressant

that's why whenever whenever your body

becomes very stressed out you instead

you have this instance of getting

susceptibility to these secondary

infections like cold or flu all right

what else does it do it also increases

blood sugar right it's a glucocorticoid

right increases blood sugar right

because the whole purpose of it when you

go into a stress response you're trying

to trying to protect the most important

organ in your body what's the most

important organ in your body I know

you're thinking it so you're gonna say

well that's a philosophical question

I'll really depends on what you're

talking about but the most important

organ of your body is your brain that

creates all the activity through all

your systems right and one of the big

metabolites of the brain is glucose

right it also causes for example

increase bone degeneration right that's

why they always say you know whenever

your assets that want to get these bone

injections these episode shots to bring

this anti-inflammatory they don't

recommend it more than once a year

because you don't want to have the

deterioration of this connective tissue

alright so you have glucocorticoids that

are being released

you've also another hormone that's

release what is that hormone is a

mineral corticoid so mineral corticoid

what's an example of that if you

remember what's an example of that

aldosterone right so aldosterone is a

mineral corticoid what does that mean it

involves with the regulation of your

minerals your salt near potassium

so what does that mean well aldosterone

its main function is increase sodium

reabsorption

all right so bringing the sodium back

into the blood and then it also

increases potassium secretion so it gets

potassium out of your blood so when you

have high levels of potassium excuse me

we have high levels of sodium in your

body that's called hypernatremia when

you have low levels of potassium in your

body

it's called hypokalemia right and these

changes in osmolarity leads to the

increased absorption of fluids right so

you have increase of fluids right now

this increases your blood volume your

blood volume goes up you have an

excessive level of high blood pressure

right you have an increased heart rate

this can lead to different dilations in

your in your body right and so the

difference really is between chronic and

long term stress is what hormones

usually are being secreted so during

short term stress as we said before here

you have the catecholamines from the

adrenal medulla that's really effective

versus long term stress affects mainly

the cortex secreting these

glucocorticoids and these mineral

corticoids