71 A Christian Guide to Body Stewardship, Diet and Exercise Figure 4.4. The Physiological Response to Acute Stress The second level of the stress response, called the resistance stage, occurs when stress is prolonged. If a stressful event or situation is prolonged, heart rate, blood pressure and other physiological responses associated with the alarm stage begin to decline, yet still remain above normal, resting levels. These levels remain elevated due to the higher than normal amount of cortisol in the blood, which can increase the risk for heart disease. Unless the stressful situation or event is eliminated, or the person is able to change their perception of the situation or event (i.e., eustress versus distress), then the third stage, or the exhaustion stage, of the stress response occurs. In this final stage, the body has depleted all of its energy resources by continually trying, but failing, to recover from the initial alarm stage. Research shows that prolonged periods of stress can contribute to numerous emotional and physiological disorders including depression, anxiety, heart disease, stroke, hypertension and immune system disturbances that increase susceptibility to infections (American Psychological Association, n.d.).
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