Fight or flight, forbearance and fortitude: the spectrum of actions of the catecholamines and their cousins

Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences
C P Arun

Abstract

Catecholamines are recognized to play an important part in the fight-or-flight response to impending stress. Catecholamine and other phase-reactant levels are raised in the first 24 h following acute stress, but the bigger picture of their action on the organism is unavailable. In this article, we examine their actions in light of the theory of phase transitions borrowed from the numerate sciences. Phase transitions involve changes in the state of matter or an organism with a common example of what is termed a first-order phase transition (sudden change) being provided by the popular expression "the straw that broke the camel's back." We propose that the response to catecholamines follows a triphasic response: a Phase I response is the fight-or-flight response to impending stress that protects the animal. With mild to intermediate stress, the Phase II or forbearance response allows it to tolerate the physiological upset. With severe stress, however, severe vital organ vasoconstriction leads to a quick death. The present theory has value in understanding the clinical picture in acute stress. Phase II or Forbearance Phase corresponds to Classes I, II, and III of hemorrhagic shock, and Phase III or Fortitude Phase to Class IV. Thu...Continue Reading

Citations

Mar 3, 2011·Applied Psychophysiology and Biofeedback·Quinn A MorarendDavid C Holmes
Nov 28, 2009·Sangyō eiseigaku zasshi = Journal of occupational health·Mutsuhiro Nakao
Sep 30, 2014·Psychosomatic Medicine·Paul A DennisJean C Beckham
Aug 28, 2007·Experimental Biology and Medicine·Sharon DemorrowGianfranco Alpini
Jan 24, 2018·Molecular and Cellular Endocrinology·Amy C KellySean W Limesand

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Related Concepts

Related Feeds

Apoptosis

Apoptosis is a specific process that leads to programmed cell death through the activation of an evolutionary conserved intracellular pathway leading to pathognomic cellular changes distinct from cellular necrosis

Related Papers

Forensic Science International : Synergy
C H Jayewardene
Veterinary Anaesthesia and Analgesia
Omid AzariMostafa Esmaeili
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America
Ciro CattutoVittorio Loreto
© 2022 Meta ULC. All rights reserved