Which type of stress deals with the biological effects on the body, such as heart disease and high blood pressure?

• A. Acute stress
• B. Physiological stress
• C. Chronic stress
• D. Psychological stress

Answer: (B)

How stress translates into the body's physical responses and health effects. The term that focuses on the body's physiological changes—like how stress hormones and the autonomic nervous system affect heart rate, blood vessels, and blood pressure—fits this question best. When stress is experienced, the body’s stress response can become chronic, leading to sustained elevations in blood pressure and wear on the cardiovascular system, which connects directly to diseases like heart disease.

Acute stress describes a short-term, immediate reaction; chronic stress refers to long-lasting exposure but emphasizes duration rather than the specific bodily processes; psychological stress centers on mental and emotional experience rather than the body's concrete physiological changes. By focusing on the body's physical functioning and health outcomes, the physiological stress perspective most accurately captures the biological effects on the body described in the question.