Case Study

Stress and Adaptation

A 25-year-old college student is seen in an outpatient setting with the chief complaint of difficulty sleeping. He states he has been having problems with sleep for the past four weeks. He has not been eating well, has noted an increase in stomach pain, and states he feels anxious all the time. He states he is in his fourth year of college and will be graduating in one month. When the nurse examines him, she finds the following: pulse 100, R 18, and BP 130/90. His skin is diaphoretic and he appears anxious.

·      Discuss how the adrenal cortex is stimulated during the stress response

·      Describe specific monitoring by the nurse that would be important to note regarding the stress response

·      Describe how the immune system responds to chronic stressors