What Is General Adaptation Syndrome?

General Adaptation Syndrome refers to the short-term and long-term response of the human body to stress, including three phases: alert phase, resistance phase and exhaustion phase.

General adaptation syndrome (GAS) is a type of adaptive response defined by Canadian psychologist Hans Selye in the 1930s: an organism must find his balance or stability in order to maintain Or restore its integrity and tranquility ^[1]

General Adaptation Syndrome Alert Phase

Whenever an organism encounters any stressful stimulus, it will cause changes in the body's physiology and biochemistry, internal environment balance, and visceral functions, that is, the biological organism itself will mobilize for adaptive defense.

General adaptation syndrome resistance stage

After the adrenaline is increased in the organism, changes in heart rhythm, increased breathing, increased blood pressure, and increased blood glucose levels will occur in order to fully mobilize the body's potential to cope with the threat of environmental changes.

General adaptation syndrome exhaustion stage

The threat caused by the stressful stimulus continues or the body still reacts as if there is a threat, the resistance will continue, and the necessary adaptive capacity may be exhausted and eventually collapse. At this time, the body will be damaged by its own defense forces, causing disease.