Activity 2
Reflecting on the lesson
Choose one concept in our lesson today, give a brief explanation about the concept and cite how would you apply this learning in your everyday life.
I learned about stress and immunity in our lesson. Stress can affect one’s health habits. Many people are less likely to do things that help their immune system such as exercising and eating well. They also tend to resort to unhealthy outlets such as smoking and consuming alcohol. This then decreases the enhancement of one’s immunity.
Stress causes our adrenal cortex to release the hormone cortisol. This hormone’s purpose is to release glucose in order for us to have energy to cope with the stress. High levels of cortisol increase appetite and cravings of sugary, salty, and fatty foods. Overeating of unhealthy foods can cause inflammation as there is an increase in immune response. Stress can also lead to exhaustion where the body’s resources are depleted. This can happen when we do not get enough sleep. This weakens the immune system and increases the chance to get sick.
I often feel stressed due to school, and through this lesson I realized how it affects my immune system and overall health. I noticed that I tend to overeat, not get enough sleep, and feel pessimistic during stressful times. I learned that I need to increase my stress resistance by doing activities that help improve my immune system such as exercising daily, sleeping well, and eating healthy food. This can not only improve my immune system, but also my physical, emotional, and mental health.
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Cleveland Clinic. (2021). Cortisol. https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/articles/22187-cortisol
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