Quiz: Don't Worry! Be Happy!

Estimated Completion Time
3 min
Quiz: Don't Worry! Be Happy!
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About This Quiz

You can't avoid stress -- it's everywhere! And no matter the source of your stress, it's doing certain things to your body. Take this quiz to find out what's going on when stress sets in.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), what percentage of all illnesses and disease is stress-related?
25 percent
60 percent
90 percent
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Medical research suggests that up to 90 percent of all illness and disease is stress-related.

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What happens in the mouth and throat during stress?
You scream your head off.
All of your saliva disappears and you can't swallow.
Your brain produces a cinnamon flavor to calm you down.
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

During times of acute stress, fluids are diverted from nonessential locations, including the mouth. This causes dryness and difficulty talking. In addition, stress can cause spasms of the throat muscles, making it difficult to swallow.

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Stress can cause alopecia areata. What part of the body does this disorder affect?
skin
hair
heart
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Alopecia areata is hair loss that occurs in localized patches.

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Long-term exposure to the stress hormone cortisol has been linked to shrinking in what part of the brain?
hippocampus
temporal lobe
frontal lobe
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Studies have connected long-term exposure to excess amounts of cortisol to shrinking of the hippocampus, the brain's memory center.

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In response to a stressor, a part of the brain called the HPA system is activated. What does HPA stand for?
hydrocephalic procarbazine acetate
hypothalamic pituitary adrenal
hormonal phytoalexin alkaline
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

HPA refers to the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal system.

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What are glucocorticoids?
the parts of the brain which become active during a stress episode
blood clots in the heart caused by chronic stress
steroid hormones, such as the stress hormone cortisol
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Glucocorticoids are steroid hormones, a class that includes the primary stress hormone cortisol. The HPA systems trigger the production and release of these hormones.

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Why do neurotransmitters suppress areas in the brain concerned with short-term memory, concentration and inhibition during a stressful event?
so that you have no memory of the experience
to enable you to react quickly to the stressor
so that you won't feel pain if you die
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

During a stressful event, neurotransmitters suppress activity in areas at the front of the brain concerned with short-term memory, which allows the person to react quickly to the stressor. At the same time, neurotransmitters signal the hippocampus to store the experience in long-term memory.

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What is the circulatory system's response to stress?
Blood flow decreases by approximately 50 percent.
Blood flow increases slightly.
Blood flow increases by 300 to 400 percent.
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

During the stress response, the spleen discharges red and white blood cells, allowing the blood to transport more oxygen throughout the body. Blood flow may increase 300 to 400 percent, priming the muscles, lungs and brain for added demands.

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Children often experience stress. What did the American Academy of Pediatrics recommend in 2006 as a way to combat stress in children?
Children should get involved in after-school activities, such as karate or chess, which could help them deal with stress.
There should be more unstructured play time for children.
They recommended three forms of psychiatric therapy for children.
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

A report issued in October 2006 by the American Academy of Pediatrics recommended more unstructured play time for children. The report noted that today's overscheduled, hurried lifestyle was a source of stress and anxiety for children.

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Which vitamin has been shown to reduce stress levels but also carries the possible side effects of headaches, diarrhea and kidney stones?
B
C
D
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

In one 2002 study, high doses of vitamin C reduced stress levels and blood pressure. However, the doses given were higher than the recommended upper limit of 2,000 mg per day. High doses may cause headaches and diarrhea. Long-term use increases risk for kidney stones and has other adverse effects in specific individuals.

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The first step of eliminating stress is:
identifying your stressors
exercising
partying with friends
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The first step of conquering your stress inducers is to identify them.

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Which of the following is a reason why a little stress is good for you?
keeps a person from gaining a false reality of life
Without a little stress, the body tends to lose its ability to handle it.
The body tends to create stress inducers if none occur.
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Going too long without the sharp stimulating response brought on by stress, the body tends to lose some of its ability to handle stress properly.

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Which of the following lifestyle choices are NOT beneficial for the brain and reducing stress levels?
being physically active at least 30 minutes a day, five days a week
eating a healthy, well-balanced diet and drinking enough water
getting about 4-5 hours of sleep
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Lack of sleep causes mood changes, poor eating habits and an increase in stress levels.

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What percentage of all prescriptions written in America each year are anti-anxiety medications?
25 percent
50 percent
75 percent
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Twenty-five percent of all prescriptions written in the U.S are for tranquilizers, antidepressants, and anti-anxiety medications.

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Which of the following illnesses goes hand in hand with stress?
depression
dyslexia
schizophrenia
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Stress and depression have much in common. One often leads to the other.

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Short term stress may prevent which of the following illnesses?
epilepsy
migraine
Alzheimer’s
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Short-term (a healthy dose) stress activates brain cells. This brain stimulation may prevent Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia.

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Long-term stress, anxiety and depression can cause which of the following illnesses?
epilepsy
migraine
Alzheimer’s
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Long-term stress stimulates growth of the proteins that might cause Alzheimer’s and can lead to memory loss.

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What percentage of the general population experiences some stress every two weeks?
25 percent
50 percent
75 percent
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Seventy-five percent of the general population has some amount of stress about twice per month.

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Which are more prone to developing anxiety disorders as a result of stress?
men
women
Both are the same.
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Women are more susceptible to developing depression because of stress. Sex hormones modulate stress response.

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Which of the following harmful behaviors are contributed to by stress?
suicide
drug addiction
obesity
all of the above
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Stress contributes to the development of alcoholism, obesity, suicide, drug addiction, and other harmful behaviors.

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You Got:
/20
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