acute stress
Quick Summary
Stress, in psychology and biology, is any pressure that causes an organism to respond and adapt to changing conditions. Acute stress is short-term, triggered by immediate challenges, and activates the body's fight-or-flight response. This response, described by Walter Bradford Cannon, involves physiological changes like increased heart rate, blood pressure, and oxygen delivery to the brain, preparing the body to confront or escape a threat. Hormones such as epinephrine and norepinephrine are released, leading to increased blood glucose and widened blood vessels for greater blood flow. While beneficial for survival in the short term, chronic stress, which is long-lasting, can negatively impact physical and mental health.123
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