Hans selye developed a model to explain the relationship between stress and disease. how many stages does this model have.

The answer is 3

Introduction

Hans Selye (1907- 1982) was a Hungarian endocrinologist, first to give a scientific explanation for biological stress.

Hans Selye explained his stress model based on physiology and psychobiology as General Adaptation Syndrome (GAS).

His model states that an event that threatens an organism’s well-being (a stressor) leads to a three-stage bodily response:

Stage 1: Alarm

Stage 2: Resistance

Stage 3: Exhaustion

He explained about hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis (HPA axis) system which prepares the body to cope with stress.

Selye also explained about a local adaptation syndrome which refers to the inflammatory response and repair processes occur at the local site of tissue injury as in small, topical injuries, such as contact dermatitis which may lead to GAS if the local injury is severe enough.

Stages

Stage 1: Alarm

Upon encountering a stressor, body reacts with “fight-or-flight” response and sympathetic nervous system is activated.

Hormones such as cortisol and adrenaline released into the bloodstream to meet the threat or danger.

The body’s resources now mobilized.

Stage 2: Resistance

Parasympathetic nervous system returns many physiological functions to normal levels while body focuses resources against the stressor.

Blood glucose levels remain high, cortisol and adrenaline continue to circulate at elevated levels, but outward appearance of organism seems normal.

Increase HR, BP, breathing

Body remains on red alert.

Stage 3: Exhaustion

If stressor continues beyond body’s capacity, organism exhausts resources and becomes susceptible to disease and death.