The document discusses stress and its effects on the body. It defines stress as a state of tension that can disrupt homeostasis. It describes the body's stress responses, including activation of the sympathetic nervous system and hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal axis, which increases catecholamines and glucocorticoids respectively. These hormones produce various effects on organ systems and metabolism to help the body adapt to stressors. The document also discusses cellular responses like increased heat shock proteins and acute phase proteins that help protect cells under stress.