Stress

High school (ages 12+)
Human Body

Name:

Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/stress

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. What is the primary physiological pathway?Involves the sympathetic nervous system and the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis
2. What is the key hormonal mediators?Adrenaline, noradrenaline, and cortisol play critical roles in the stress response
3. Why does my heart beat fast when I'm nervous?When we feel nervous, the brain sends signals that trigger the release of adrenaline and other hormones, making the heart beat faster.
4. How does stress help us in dangerous situations?Stress prepares us to fight or run by releasing hormones like adrenaline, which quickens our heart and gives us energy to act.

Cognitive Appraisal: The process of evaluating a situation to determine its potential threat or challenge.
HPA Axis: Hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis, a major neuroendocrine system controlling stress response.
Allostatic Load: The cumulative wear and tear on the body from chronic stress exposure.