| First realize that stress is not an emotional state, | | | | amounts for instant energy. The adrenal gland |
| but rather a physiological reaction that occurs in | | | | starts producing and releasing steroid hormones, |
| your body. Doctors refer to it as the | | | | including the primary stress hormone cortisol. This |
| hypothalamic pituitary axis; the connection | | | | hormone travels to all areas including the heart, |
| between the hypothalamus, pituitary and the | | | | lungs, circulation, metabolism, immune systems |
| adrenal gland. These three 'elements' work | | | | and skin. Now, if a bear in the wild (or a thug on a |
| together in a stressful situation to put the body | | | | street city corner) attacks you, then this HPA |
| into a heightened state of preparation to | | | | system can literally be a lifesaver. But here's the |
| overcome a potentially life threatening event. This | | | | problem as it relates to Alzheimer caregiver |
| stress reaction is actually a left over from a | | | | stress… When stress is routine, so is this |
| survival mechanism called, "Fight or Flight." When | | | | constant biochemical release that, over time, |
| faced with tremendous stress, where survival | | | | actually harms the body in various ways such as: |
| might hang in the balance, humans have one of | | | | • Decreased immune system • Greater |
| two instant reactions – run from the situation | | | | chance for infection and disease • Digestive |
| (flight) or meet the challenge head-on (fight). How | | | | tract problems like ulcers • Lung problems like |
| a person reacts will differ from one to the next. | | | | asthma • Heart disease, which causes strokes |
| But the thing that is consistent is the hypothalamic | | | | and heart attacks The HPA system is an |
| pituitary axis (HPA) itself. Everyone has the HPA | | | | intelligent design within the human race. The |
| and it regulates: • Blood Pressure • Heart | | | | problem is it doesn't automatically distinguish |
| Rate • Body Temperature • Sleep Patterns | | | | caregiver stress that is continuous, day after day, |
| • Hunger and Thirst • Among many other | | | | from a bear attack, which is temporary. That |
| activities When stress becomes great, the HPA | | | | means the stress that caregivers endure is |
| system takes over in a matter of seconds. Blood | | | | chronic, and therefore, more debilitating to the |
| circulation is diverted from the extremities to | | | | human body. The good news is there are ways |
| internal organs. Adrenaline is secreted in massive | | | | to combat its effects. |