You Have Been Studying Hard for Your MCATs Without a Break

question 13

Multiple Choice

You have been studying hard for your MCATs without a break, knowing that your entrance into medical school could depend upon your scores.After weeks of this, you notice you cannot shake a cold that should have cleared up in a few days.What other symptom(s) might you develop during this time of stress, and why?

• A) Low blood sugar because of increased epinephrine
• B) High blood pressure because of increased cortisol levels
• C) Decreased stamina because of decreased somatostatin
• D) Low blood calcium and muscle cramps because of decreased calcitonin
• E) Darkening of the skin due to increased levels of melanocyte-stimulating hormone

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Definitions:

Joneses

A colloquial term referring to neighbors or societal peers whose social and economic status influence others to try to keep up or surpass them, often leading to consumerism and competition.

Groupthink

A psychological phenomenon in which the desire for group conformity results in an irrational or dysfunctional decision-making outcome.

Challenger Explosion

The catastrophic breakdown of the Space Shuttle Challenger shortly after its launch in 1986, resulting in the deaths of all seven crew members.

Social Influence

The effect that the words, actions, or mere presence of other people have on an individual's thoughts, feelings, attitudes, or behaviors.