Stress and Illness: Apply It

  • Describe the fight or flight response and general adaptation syndrome
  • Explain what occurs in the sympathetic nervous system and the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis during stress
  • Describe how stress impacts the functioning of the immune system
  • Describe how stress and emotional factors can lead to the development or worsening of cardiovascular disorders

Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs)

APA Theme C: Psychological, biological, social, and cultural factors influence behavior and mental processes.Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) are potentially traumatic events that occur in childhood. ACEs can include violence, abuse, and growing up in a family with mental health or substance use problems. Toxic stress from ACEs can change brain development and affect how the body responds to stress.

To learn more, visit the CDC ACEs website that highlights the negative impacts of ACEs on health as well as education and employment opportunities later in life. It also provides strategies from the CDC Technical Packages to Prevent Violence that can help states and communities use the best available evidence to prevent ACEs.