WhatIsStress..doc

What Is Stress? Stress can be defined as the bodys response to any demand made upon it by physical, physiological, or psychological factors known as stressors. Any internal or external stimulus that is perceived as a threat to the bodys equilibrium causes a reaction as the body marshals its resources to cope with it. These reactions include the release of chemical hormones (such as adrenalin) into the blood and a marked increase in the metabolic rate which provides energy to the muscles. Blood is shunted away from the stomach and digestive tract to supply the muscles in the arms and legs with more oxygen. Blood sugar is increased. Heart rate, respiration, blood pressure, and perspiration all increase. Other hormones improve the bloods ability to clot. The result prepares the body to fight or flee, a primordial physiological response to threat.? What Are Stressors? As mentioned before, stressors can be either physical, physiological, or psychological. Physical stressors include conditions associated with the environment, such as temperature and humidity extremes, noise, vibration, and lack of oxygen. You have probably already encountered some or all of these in flight. Physiological stressors include fatigue, lack of physical fitness, sleep loss, missed meals (leading to low blood sugar levels), and illness. Psychological stressors are related to social or emotional factors such as a death in the family, a divorce, a sick child, a demotion, etc. Also, they may be related to mental workload such as analyzing a problem, navigating an aircraft, or making decisions. When you need to consider only one thing at a time to reach a decision, you usually have no problem in making a decision. In flight, however, you frequently have to deal with many situations simultaneously and make numerous, interrelated decisions-often based on in complete information and within a short span of time. For instance, on a cross-country flight you realize you are much lower on fuel than you e