This is the review portion Module Overview In this module you will examine the effects of chronic stress and cortisol dysregulation on the cardiovascular and digestive systems. First you will examine the normal structure and function of these systems, and then investigate the mechanisms behind chronic diseases associated with high stress levels, such as high blood pressure and obesity. Let’s begin by learning more about each system. As you may already know, the cardiovascular system is a closed loop circulatory system (unlike the lymphatic system, which is an open loop), with the main function of circulating blood carrying nutrients and oxygen to the tissues of the body and removing waste products and carbon dioxide from the body’s tissues. The heart is the pump that drives this circulation. The hypothalamus in the CNS has control over heart rate and respiration. The hypothalamus sends signals directly to the heart and adrenal glands in response to signals collected from blood chemistry and pressure to adjust heart rate, keeping oxygen levels up and carbon dioxide levels down. In a crisis, the CNS and endocrine system respond to severe blood loss to return blood pressure back to normal. Complete this tutorial on the circulatory system in order to better visualize these processes. Let’s look more closely at factors that affect blood pressure (BP) . Click on this brief explanation of peripheral resistance for an illustration of its contribution to BP. There are two mechanisms that the body uses to respond to stress that affect heart rate and BP: Signals from the sympathetic nervous system override the normal “ pacemaker ” of the heart to increase HR and constrict the blood vessels. Higher heart rate accompanied by vasoconstriction causes blood pressure to increase. The kidneys can also respond to a drop in BP by conserving water and returning it back to the blood stream to attempt to restore normal BP. A hormone, ACTH, is released from the adrenal medulla in response to hemorrhaging (uncontrollable bleeding) or dehydration. In summary, hormones signal water conservation to increase blood volume. Both the CNS and endocrine systems also influence digestive system function. Complete the tutorial to learn about the anatomy and physiology of this system. Once the food that we ingest is broken down into its chemical components, the nutrients are absorbed by the small intestine. The small intestine is highly vascularized, and the nutrients enter the blood stream and the circulatory system here. As the blood vessels make their way back to the heart, they merge as the hepatic portal vein and travel to the liver. The nutrient-rich blood makes a stop at the liver, where toxins are removed and blood sugar levels are detected and corrected with the help of the hormone insulin. The contents of the blood are now appropriate to travel to the heart and enter systemic circulation. You will learn more about how insulin regulates blood sugar levels, a.

1. This is the review portion
Module Overview
In this module you will examine the effects of chronic stress
and cortisol dysregulation on the cardiovascular and digestive
systems. First you will examine the normal structure and
function of these systems, and then investigate the mechanisms
behind chronic diseases associated with high stress levels, such
as high blood pressure and obesity.
Let’s begin by learning more about each system. As you may
already know, the cardiovascular system is a closed loop
circulatory system (unlike the lymphatic system, which is an
open loop), with the main function of circulating blood carrying
nutrients and oxygen to the tissues of the body and removing
waste products and carbon dioxide from the body’s tissues. The
heart is the pump that drives this circulation. The hypothalamus
in the CNS has control over heart rate and respiration. The
hypothalamus sends signals directly to the heart and adrenal
glands in response to signals collected from blood chemistry
and pressure to adjust heart rate, keeping oxygen levels up and
carbon dioxide levels down. In a crisis, the CNS and endocrine
system respond to severe blood loss to return blood pressure
back to normal. Complete this tutorial on the
circulatory system
in order to better visualize these processes.
Let’s look more closely at
factors that affect blood pressure (BP)
. Click on this brief explanation of
peripheral resistance
for an illustration of its contribution to BP.
There are two mechanisms that the body uses to respond to
stress that affect heart rate and BP:
Signals from the sympathetic nervous system override the
normal “
pacemaker

2. ” of the heart to increase HR and constrict the blood vessels.
Higher heart rate
accompanied by
vasoconstriction
causes blood pressure to increase.
The kidneys can also respond to a drop in BP by conserving
water and returning it back to the blood stream to attempt to
restore normal BP. A hormone, ACTH, is released from the
adrenal medulla in response to hemorrhaging (uncontrollable
bleeding) or dehydration. In summary, hormones signal water
conservation to increase blood volume.
Both the CNS and endocrine systems also influence
digestive system
function. Complete the tutorial to learn about the anatomy and
physiology of this system. Once the food that we ingest is
broken down into its chemical components, the nutrients are
absorbed by the small intestine. The small intestine is highly
vascularized, and the nutrients enter the blood stream and the
circulatory system here. As the blood vessels make their way
back to the heart, they merge as the hepatic portal vein and
travel to the liver. The nutrient-rich blood makes a stop at the
liver, where toxins are removed and blood sugar levels are
detected and corrected with the help of the hormone insulin.
The contents of the blood are now appropriate to travel to the
heart and enter systemic circulation. You will learn more about
how insulin regulates blood sugar levels, and the effects that the
stress response have on insulin, blood sugar, and fat storage.
Now review the
effects of positive and negative feedback
from the neuroendocrine system on both circulation and
digestion before continuing on to your Case and SLP
assignments.
This is the actual Assignment
Stress and the Cardiovascular and Digestive Systems

3. Note: If you have trouble viewing some of the course materials,
install Quicktime and the Adobe Shockwave Player, both of
which can be downloaded free from the Internet.
STOP!!! YOU MUST HAVE COMPLETED THE TUTORIALS
ON THE CARDIOVASCULAR SYSTEM ON THE HOME
PAGE BEFORE YOU WILL BE ABLE TO COMPLETE THIS
ASSIGNMENT!
Case Assignment
In this Case Assignment, you will address the following in a 2-
to 3-page essay:
First complete this exercise to identify the factors that have an
effect on
heart rate
.
In your introductory paragraph, explain:
Which factors contributed to an increase in HR, and
Which factors contributed to a decrease in HR?
Now view the video
Stress effects on the heart
and read the following resources on hypertension and stress:
Stress and Blood Pressure
, by the American Heart Association
Effect of psychological stress on blood pressure increase: a
meta-analysis of cohort studies
. Gasperin, D et al. 2009. Cad. Saúde Pública, Rio de Janeiro,
25(4):715-726.
Based on what you read and observed, address the following
questions in the body of your essay:
What is the risk of stress on the heart?
What are the contributions of the nervous system to the
increased workload that the heart experiences when an
individual is stressed?
Do some additional research to define “myocardial infarction
risk.” What do Gasperin et al. (2009) say about the relationship
between stress and myocardial infarction risk?
Using the resources above, define “hypertension.” Summarize

4. the results reported by Gasperin et al. (2009) about stress and
hypertension. What was successful in lowering hypertension?
In a conclusion paragraph write about what surprised you as you
completed the readings/video for this Case study?
Assignment Expectations
You are provided with many scholarly references to complete
this assignment. Include a References section that lists these
sources (refer to the Background page). For any additional
research you are required to do to complete your assignment,
please use scholarly references such as a peer-reviewed journal
article or a government-sponsored or university-sponsored
website. As you read through your sources, take notes from your
sources and then write your paper in your own words,
describing what you have learned from your research. Direct
quotes should be limited and must be designated by quotation
marks. Paraphrased ideas must give credit to the original author,
for example (Murray, 2014).
Direct copying from “homework help” websites will not receive
credit.