Amandeep Singh

Homeostasis maintains dynamic equilibrium of body by constantly being challenged by external and internal factors. Stress disrupts and threatens homeostasis. Three potential outcomes of interaction between homeostasis-disturbing stressors and stressoractivated adaptive responses of the organisms are: The match between the stressor and response may be perfect and organism remains in in eustasis. Organism falls into cacostaisis (inappropriate response) Match may be perfect hyperstasis- shift homeostasis equilibrium. ( Adapting to high or low levels of stress)

The stress response is mediated by the stress system, which is located in both central nervous system and the peripheral organs. The main effectors of the stress system are highly interconnected, and include the corticotropin releasing hormone and brainstem derived norepinphrine. These main effectors of the system regulate the brains cognitive, reward and fear systems, and wake-sleep centers as well as metabolic, immune, gastrointestinal, and growth, and reproduction functions.

The stress system has a basal circadian activity and responds to stressors on demand. Appropriate basal activity and appropriate response to the stressors are vital in maintaining homeostasis which will provide a sense of well being. Inappropriate response to the stressors in terms of magnitude and duration might impair growth, development, and lead to many different autoimmune, cardiovascular, endocrine, and metabolic disorders. The times of increased vulnerability in stressors are during prenatal development, infancy, childhood, and adolescence.

 High

levels of CRH lead to behavorial disorders such as reduced fertility, anxiety, depression, PTSD in children, eating disorders, and chronic and active alcoholism. Also a common feature is gastrointestinal disorders such as irritable bowel movement and ulcers. Low CRH activity leads to premenstrual dysphoric depression in females and also postpartum depression. Shows importance of body nedding to stay in eustasis.

Figure 2 | Chronic stress can lead to development of the metabolic syndrome.35

Abbreviations: ABP, arterial blood pressure; ACTH, adrenocorticotropic hormone; APr, acute-phase reactants; AvP, arginine vasopressin; CrH, corticotropinreleasing hormone; iCrH, immune CrH; e, epinephrine; e2, estradiol;GH, growth hormone; HPA, hypothalamicpituitaryadrenal; iGF-i, insulin-like growth factor i; iL-6, interleukin 6; LC, locus

 Homeostasis

is vital in maintaining the well being of an organism. Disorder in the regulation of homeostasis in the stress system might impair growth, reproductive, and thyroid hormone axes, and influence the gastrointestinal, metabolic, and immune systems. Our modern lifestyle and environment contribute to and allow these stress related disorders.