02/10/2021
Stress has a different meaning for different people under different conditions. The first and most generic definition of stress was that proposed by Hans Selye: “Stress is the nonspecific response of the body to any demand.” Selye's generic definition is applicable to the stress response in all three phylogenetic domains of organisms ranging from bacteria to man. Other definitions have evolved to cater for different situations–for example, cognitive. This article explores the basis for these definitions and their validity, and outlines the neuroendocrine mechanisms that subserve the stress response. The concept of homeostasis, “stability through constancy” as the main mechanism by which the body copes with stress, has given way to allostasis, “stability through change” brought about by central neural regulation of the set points that adjust physiological parameters to meet the stressful challenge. Also reviewed briefly are relatively new stress concepts based on (1) genetic and epigenetic factors that may determine individual susceptibility to stress, and (2) the fact that fetal malnutrition may predispose individuals to the metabolic syndrome (obesity, hypertension, dislipidemia, and diabetes type 2) that has reached epidemic proportions.
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