INVOLVEMENT OF CARDIAC, RESPIRATORY AND GASTROINTESTINAL FUNCTIONS IN NEURAL RESPONSES TO STRESSFUL EVENTS

In the stress concept, fight and flight situations as well as other CNS-controlled reaction patterns for alertness to danger have to be followed by or integrated with a restorative ''build-up'' process in order to maintain homeostasis. The ''build-up'' process can be studied physiologically for example after regular exercise or training. Under these conditions there is a decrease in resting sympathetic adrenergic activity and an increase in the parasympathetic vagal activity. A theoretical model for the ''build-up'' process in psychosomatic gastroenterology has previously been presented. The present paper deals with the ''build-up'' process in cardiovascular and respiratory tract diseases seen in athletes. Anorexia nervosa related to excess physical training is also discussed as well as the ''build-up'' process in severe obesity and psychosomatic gastroenterological disorders.