Final answer:
Prolonged stress can lead to various health problems including psychophysiological disorders, suppressed immune function, and severe fatigue. It can also increase the risk of hypertension, heart disease, and numerous other conditions due to the sustained release of stress hormones, especially cortisol.
Step-by-step explanation:
When stress is prolonged and becomes a maladaptive response, it leads to numerous health issues. Initially, the body enters a stage of resistance, where it tries to adapt to the stressor, but with continued exposure, it moves on to the stage of exhaustion. During this final stage, various symptoms manifest, including depression, suppression of the immune response, severe fatigue, and potentially fatal cardiac events due to the release of hormones like cortisol. Additionally, this can lead to high blood pressure, vulnerability to infections, and diseases due to prolonged wear and tear on the body. Research in psychoneuroimmunology emphasizes the complex communication and effects between the nervous, endocrine, and immune systems in response to chronic stress.
Psychophysiological Disorders
Chronic or intense stress responses can contribute to psychophysiological disorders, increasing the risk of problems such as hypertension and coronary artery disease as described by Selye's general adaptation syndrome. The modern world presents psychological stressors that our fight or flight response cannot adapt to, unlike the physical threats faced by our ancestors.