Final answer:
The body secretes epinephrine and norepinephrine in response to short-term stress as part of the fight-or-flight response, a type of neural stimuli. While beneficial in acute scenarios, persistent stress can lead to adverse health effects. The body's response to long-term stress involves different hormones, such as cortisol, to regulate stress effects over extended periods.
Step-by-step explanation:
In response to short-term stress, the body secretes massive amounts of the hormones epinephrine and norepinephrine into the blood, and this is an example of neural stimuli. These hormones are crucial for activating the fight-or-flight response, which prepares the body to either confront or escape a threatening situation.
The sympathetic nervous system stimulates the adrenal medulla to release these hormones in reaction to stress, facilitating immediate and temporary increases in energy levels to counter disruptions of homeostasis.
While this response was essential for survival in our evolutionary past, when physical threats were more common, in the modern world, stress often stems from psychological rather than physical threats. Frequent activation of the fight-or-flight response in such contexts can lead to negative health consequences, affecting nearly every organ system, including the immune system.