The nurse is talking to a patient who was involved in a motor vehicle accident. The patient asks the ...

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Endorphins are hormones that interact with the opiate receptors in the brain to reduce our perception of pain and produce a sense of well-being. Vasopressin increases reabsorption of water by the kidneys and induces vasoconstriction, thereby raising blood pressure. It has no effect on pain sensation. Unhealthy coping choices, such as the use of alcohol or tobacco, negatively affect a person's health as well as increasing the perception of stress. Persistent elevated cortisol levels are associated with chronic health conditions, such as obesity, heart disease, depression and anxiety, diabetes, and osteoporosis.