For the past two weeks,Gretchen has been working 16 hours per day on her honors thesis.In addition,she has been responsible for caring for her sick grandmother.Consequently,she has had little time for eating well,exercising,sleeping or seeing friends.As a result,Gretchen's immune system has weakened and she feels she is going to get sick.One can view this situation as an effect of

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The situation described in the scenario is an example of a high allostatic load, which refers to the cumulative wear and tear on the body caused by ongoing stressful experiences. Gretchen's lack of time for self-care (eating well, exercising, sleeping, and seeing friends) is likely contributing to her high allostatic load, which can weaken the immune system and make her more susceptible to illness. Poor nutrition (choice A) is a factor, but it is just one of many factors contributing to Gretchen's overall stress load. Hypertension (choice C) and cytokines (choice D) may also be related to stress and immune function, but they are not the best choice in this scenario.

For the Past Two Weeks,Gretchen Has Been Working 16 Hours