Final answer:
The stage of exhaustion in the general adaptation syndrome is when stress overwhelms the body's ability to cope, leading to potential illness, disease, and other serious health consequences.
Step-by-step explanation:
When people can no longer cope with ongoing stress and become ill, they have reached the stage of exhaustion in the general adaptation syndrome (GAS). In this final stage of GAS, the body's ability to resist is depleted due to the prolonged exposure to stress. The initial shock of the alarm reaction has worn off and the stage of resistance, where the body attempted to adapt, has failed, resulting in physical wear that takes its toll on the body's tissues and organs. The consequence of reaching this stage can manifest as illness, disease, severe fatigue, depression, and even a fatal heart attack, with symptoms influenced by the adrenal cortex hormone, cortisol.