Final answer:
The General Adaptation Syndrome consists of three stages: alarm reaction (immediate response), stage of resistance (adaptation phase), and stage of exhaustion (resource depletion).
Step-by-step explanation:
Stages of General Adaptation Syndrome:
The three stages of stress response or general adaptation syndrome (GAS) are: (1) alarm reaction, (2) stage of resistance, and (3) stage of exhaustion. The general adaptation syndrome, as conceptualized by Hans Selye, outlines the process by which the body responds to stress. The first phase, known as the alarm reaction, involves immediate physiological responses to a stressor, initiating a fight-or-flight response mediated by hormones like epinephrine and norepinephrine.
This state prepares the body for extreme exertion, a response to direct threats. If the stressor continues over an extended period, the body's resources are eventually depleted, leading to exhaustion. This chronic stress phase can have significant health implications, potentially leading to conditions such as hypertension and coronary artery disease due to the prolonged activation of the body's stress response systems.