Acute stress is stress caused by a sudden or short-term stressor. The body responds to this when the SNS releases adrenaline into the bloodstream. Adrenaline causes several changes to the body such as:
- Dilated pupils: Allows more light into the eye to aid vision
- Increased heart rate: Increased blood flow to skeletal muscles
- Bronchial tubes dilate: Increased oxygen intake
- Glycogen stored in liver converted into glucose: Provides more energy
these physical changes would have been a survival advantage when a mammal faced immediate danger.
Here is a basic summary of what steps the body takes in order to produce adrenaline and enable these bodily responses to take place:
ANS: Autonomic Nervous System
SNS: Sympathetic Nervous System (Prepares the body for the 'fight or flight' response)
PNS: Parasympathetic Nervous System (Stimulates the 'rest and digest' response)
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