Sample Answer

Evaluation Statement:

• The digestive-endocrine interrelationship proves moderately effective during pre-competition anxiety.
• This evaluation examines stress response activation and digestive function changes.

Stress Response Effectiveness:

• The endocrine system rapidly releases adrenaline and cortisol during anxiety.
• These hormones increase heart rate and blood glucose for competition readiness.
• Blood flow redirects from digestive organs to muscles within seconds.
• This prepares athletes for explosive performance requirements.
• Studies show moderate anxiety improves reaction times by 15-20%.
• The endocrine response strongly meets performance preparation needs.

Digestive System Impact:

• The digestive system significantly reduces function during anxiety.
• Decreased enzyme production impairs nutrient breakdown before competition.
• Dry mouth and nausea affect 70% of anxious athletes.
• Stomach “butterflies” can distract from mental preparation.
• Poor pre-competition nutrition absorption may limit energy availability.
• This partially fulfils athlete needs, creating notable disadvantages.

Final Evaluation:

• The interrelationship shows mixed effectiveness for athletic performance.
• While the endocrine system excellently mobilises energy resources, digestive disruption creates real challenges.
• Athletes who manage anxiety through breathing techniques show better system coordination.
• The relationship proves most effective when anxiety remains moderate rather than excessive, allowing beneficial arousal without severe digestive problems.

Sample Answer

Overview Statement:

• Chronic stress affects both digestive and endocrine systems through elevated cortisol levels.
• The main relationships involve hormone disruption, nutrient absorption problems, and metabolic changes.
• These interactions result in significant performance decline in athletes.

Component Relationship 1:

• The endocrine system’s cortisol production interacts with digestive function during chronic stress.
• Elevated cortisol diverts blood flow away from digestive organs to muscles.
• The pattern shows reduced enzyme production and slower nutrient breakdown.
• Athletes experience poor vitamin and mineral absorption despite adequate diets.
• Evidence indicates that stress hormones prioritise immediate survival over digestion.
• Therefore athletes cannot access nutrients needed for recovery and energy production.

Component Relationship 2:

• Chronic cortisol elevation influences both growth hormone release and insulin sensitivity.
• High cortisol prevents muscle protein synthesis while causing muscle breakdown for energy.
• Research reveals how the endocrine system’s stress response works against recovery.
• Reduced insulin sensitivity leads to poor glucose uptake by muscles.
• Consequently, athletes experience fatigue and decreased strength gains.
• The implication is that hormonal imbalance creates multiple energy problems.

Implications and Synthesis:

• Both systems work together creating compound effects on performance.
• Poor nutrient absorption combines with hormonal disruption to impair recovery.
• Analysis demonstrates how chronic stress affects many body functions at the same time.
• Therefore, managing stress becomes essential for athletic success.
• The overall significance is that when systems work together, stress causes more damage than expected.

Sample Answer

• Cortisol released by the adrenal glands increases blood glucose through gluconeogenesis. Energy is diverted away from digestive processes to support the stress response.
• Prolonged cortisol elevation can increase stomach acid production in some individuals. Gastric inflammation, ulcers, or reflux disease may result from this change.
• Cortisol disrupts the intestinal barrier function, increasing gut permeability. Partially digested food and bacteria can enter the bloodstream, triggering inflammation.
• Chronic high cortisol suppresses digestive enzyme production from the pancreas and other organs. Nutrient breakdown and absorption efficiency decreases, particularly affecting protein digestion.
• Cortisol alters gut motility, either speeding it up or slowing it down. Normal food passage becomes disrupted, potentially causing diarrhoea or constipation.
• Compromised digestive function occurs during chronic stress. Malnutrition and gastrointestinal disorders can develop despite adequate food intake.

Sample Answer

• Chronic stress causes prolonged elevation of cortisol from the adrenal glands.
• This leads to increased blood glucose through gluconeogenesis in the liver.
• The liver converts non-carbohydrate sources into glucose continuously, raising blood glucose levels.
• Therefore, normal glucose regulation becomes disrupted.
    
• Elevated cortisol results in reduced insulin sensitivity in body cells.
• The reason for this is cells become less responsive to insulin signals, preventing glucose uptake.
• Consequently, blood glucose remains high as cells cannot absorb it effectively.
• Evidence shows how stress hormones interfere with glucose control mechanisms.

Sample Answer – Any 2 of the following

Decreased saliva production

• During acute stress, saliva production decreases due to the sympathetic nervous system activation.
• Dry mouth often results with initial digestion of carbohydrates less efficient .

Blood diversion from digestive organs

• Acute stress causes blood to be diverted away from the digestive organs to skeletal muscles, heart, and lungs.
• This can produce temporarily reduced digestive processes and nutrient absorption.

Slowed/halted peristalsis

• Acute stress can slow or halt peristalsis (the wave-like muscle contractions that move food through the digestive tract).
• Therefore feelings of fullness or discomfort can occur.

Sphincter relaxation

• Stress hormones can cause the sphincter between the oesophagus and stomach to relax inappropriately.
• Thus a heightened potential for acid reflux or heartburn during stressful situations exists.

\(B\)

\(C\)

\(B\)

\(C\)