If a patient has chronically elevated cortisol levels due to adrenal gland hyperactivity, which effect dominates over the long term?

💡 Explanation

Chronically elevated cortisol results in impaired glucose tolerance because cortisol antagonizes insulin signaling, promoting gluconeogenesis and insulin resistance. Therefore, hyperglycemia is a likely outcome, rather than increased muscle mass or enhanced immunity, which are acute responses, or increased calcium absorption.

• If ibuprofen is administered to inhibit COX enzymes during inflammation, which consequence affecting pain signaling pathways is most likely?
• If a patient reports chronic pain following a nerve injury where A-beta fibers now activate pain pathways in the spinal cord, which consequence follows?
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• A person using a prosthetic arm with haptic feedback struggles to grasp delicate objects without crushing them. Which failure mode involving mechanoreceptor feedback is most likely?
• If a patient experiences chronic pain due to peripheral nerve damage, what distinguishes descending modulation from other pain relief mechanisms?
• Why does parathyroid hormone (PTH) secretion generally increase bone mineral resorption when blood calcium levels are low?