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A nurse explains that the cortisol response is not harmful in itself. Which statement matches what is known about cortisol?
ACortisol weakens immunity from the first minute it is released
BCortisol has no effect at all on immunity at any exposure level
CShort bursts briefly aid immunity, sustained release harms it
DCortisol improves immunity most when it stays elevated for weeks
Answer & Solution
Correct answer: C. Short bursts briefly aid immunity, sustained release harms it
1. Cortisol is the stress hormone released by the adrenal glands when a stressor is encountered.
2. In short bursts the cortisol process has favorable effects: extra energy, a temporary improvement in immune system functioning, and decreased pain sensitivity.
3. Extended release of cortisol, as happens with prolonged or chronic stress, comes at a high price.
4. High cortisol levels significantly weaken the immune system, and high levels are frequently observed among depressed individuals.
5. So the direction of the effect depends on duration, which rules out any claim of harm from the first minute.
6. Claiming no immune effect at all contradicts both the short-burst benefit and the long-term damage.
7. Claiming that weeks of elevation improve immunity inverts the harm that sustained elevation actually causes.
_Source: OpenStax Psychology (1st ed., CC BY 4.0), Ch 14 "Stress, Lifestyle, and Health", section 14.1 What Is Stress?_
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