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return the body to its normal state. It stimulates digestion, the immune system and
eliminative organs etc. to rebuild the body [17].
Physiology of the Stress Response.
When our brain appraises stress, the sympathetic
nervous system stimulates the hypothalamus, and prepares the brain to respond to
stress (see Fig. 1). The SNS stimulates the adrenal gland to release the hormone
Adrenaline into the blood supply. It also releases Noradrenalin to the nerve endings
and activates various smooth muscles. These hormones decrease digestions, increase
the heart rate, increase metabolic rate, dilates blood vessels in the heart and other
muscles and constricts the skin blood vessels i.e. decreases skin temperature etc.
Stress
Hypothalamus
CRF
(Corticotropin- releasing
factor)
Pituitary gland releases
ACTH
(Adrenocorticotropin hormone)
Sympathetic nervous
system
Adrenal cortex releases
Cortisol
Adrenal medulla
releases A
drenaline
Stress hormones travel in the
blood stream to relevant organs
e.g. heart, intestine, glands etc.
Releases
Noradrenaline
at
the nerve endings and
stimulates smooth muscles
and glands
Fight-or-flight response
Fig. 1.
Physiology of the stress response [18]
The Hypothalamus also releases Corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH) which ac-
tivates the pituitary gland to release the Adrenocorticotropin hormone (ACTH).
ACTH then travels through the blood supply and stimulates the adrenal glands to
release Cortisol into the blood supply. Thus the human body supplies energy and
oxygen, and provides stimulation to the heart, muscles, brain and other organs to help
the body response to stress [18]. When the brain receives the information that
the stress situation is over, the parasympathetic nervous system helps to return the
hormones to the baseline levels. Thus, the SNS activates during stress and helps to
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