Which response might lead to localized inflammation during stress?

Increased stomach acidity can lead to localized inflammation during stress because it often results from heightened physiological responses in the body. When a person experiences stress, the body can enter a state of fight-or-flight, stimulating the production of gastric acid in the stomach. This excess acidity can irritate the stomach lining, potentially leading to conditions like gastritis or ulcers, which are characterized by inflammation.

Additionally, during stress, the body's regulatory mechanisms can become skewed, compromising the normal protective barriers of the stomach and increasing its vulnerability to inflammation due to the aggressive nature of the elevated acids. This connection emphasizes how stress can have direct physiological consequences, such as localized inflammation, through mechanisms like changes in stomach acidity.