8.1 Homeostasis, Stress, and Adaptation

Homeostasis is a state of balance in the body. Through continual, often-automatic interactions among body systems, the body attempts to maintain homeostasis as environmental conditions change. Illness and death occur when homeostasis cannot be maintained.
Stress refers to any disruption to the body’s usual state. Stress is a universal part of life, yet individuals may respond differently to the same stressor for a variety of reasons, including physical, emotional, and psychosocial factors.
Adaptation to stress is needed to maintain homeostasis. Positive adaptive behaviors can restore health, whereas maladaptive behaviors can further increase stress and produce negative outcomes.

8.2 Causes and Types of Stress

Stressors can be perceived by the body as physical threats to its homeostasis.
Stressors can be psychosocial, relating to the person’s lifestyle, work, relationships, and emotional well-being.
Stressors can be internal or external in relation to the body.
Stressors can be short term (acute) or long term (chronic) based on the time frame during which the person experiences the stressor.
Nurses need to evaluate stressors with the patient to help eliminate and address them.

Stress can be both the event that activates a stress response and the physical response to a stressor.
Examples of physical responses to a stressor include infection, trauma, allergic response, and activation of the sympathetic nervous system.
The interplay of sociocultural, environmental, and mental factors in affecting a person’s response to stress is called the Transactional Stress Model.
Stress can be the cause of disease if not controlled and managed correctly.

The brain’s physiological adaptation and response to stress occur through the nervous system.
Within the autonomic nervous system are two divisions: the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems
The sympathetic nervous system responds autonomically by activating the body to fight or flee.
The body attempts to adapt to the demands of stress by each body system.
The role of the nurse is to identify indicators of physical and emotional stress in a patient.
Nurses can use vital signs and physical examination findings to evaluate stress in a patient to deliver appropriate care

A stressful event can be neutral, positive, or negative, based on a variety of factors.
Coping strategies need to be taught across the lifespan.
The physical, emotional, cognitive, and behavioral effects of stress affect one’s health.
Physical effects of stress can be identified by a nurse during a physical examination.
Identifying emotional and cognitive effects of stress requires additional interviewing skills by nurses.
Behavioral effects of stress depend on a person’s values, beliefs, age, abilities, thoughts, emotions, and resources.

Cells function on a continuum of a healthy state contingent on multiple factors that affect cell health.
The body uses both positive and negative feedback to communicate within all the body systems to produce desired outcomes.
The inflammatory response is an innate process of protection and attempts to promote recovery from pathogens, injury, or trauma.
Causes of cellular injury include environmental and genetic factors.
Cells can be injured as a result of extremes in temperature, poor nutrition, radiation, infections, trauma, and inability to regenerate and repair.

Stress affects both the individual and the family unit.
Family-centered care involves many nursing actions that demonstrate awareness, thoughtfulness, and support.
Nurses can offer social support for patients and family dynamics.

Pharmacological treatment is an option to dealing with stress.
Nonpharmacological treatments are available options to help people deal with stress.
Complementary and alternative therapies are viable solutions without negative side effects to help people manage and decrease stress.
It is in the scope of the nurse to provide patient education about pharmacological and nonpharmacological strategies to address stress.