| Although stress affects the immune system, | | | | as antigens. Your first line of defense includes |
| many people either don't know this or don't realize | | | | your skin and antibodies. If these fail, two other |
| how serious it is. Because it's hard to imagine | | | | immune responses kick in. These other cells move |
| anyone consciously putting their health and life at | | | | in to attach to and render antigens inactive. One |
| risk. And that's exactly what happens when we | | | | type is called "CD8 cells" or suppressor cells. |
| ignore how significant the effects of stress are to | | | | Psychological stressors actually cause CD8 cells to |
| our immune system. | | | | divide. This means there are more of them which |
| Let's begin by outlining the stress response or | | | | cause the immune function to be suppressed. And |
| "fight-or-flight" reaction. When you encounter a | | | | stress also causes catecholamine levels to |
| physical or psychological "threat," the | | | | increase. These chemicals work in nerve |
| hypothalamus, a tiny region at the base of your | | | | transmission. The main ones are dopamine, |
| brain, sets off an alarm system. A series of | | | | epinephrine, and norepinephrine. Increased levels of |
| nerve and hormonal signals then prompt your | | | | these chemicals have a variety of impacts. But |
| adrenal glands. These are located on top of your | | | | the bottom line is that the impacts include |
| kidneys and they release a surge of hormones; | | | | suppressing the immune function. |
| the most abundant being adrenaline and cortisol. | | | | Taking all this a step farther, what happens when |
| Adrenaline increases your heart rate, elevates | | | | your immune system is suppressed? |
| your blood pressure and boosts your energy | | | | Your risk of viral infection rises. Stress also leads |
| levels. Cortisol increases sugars in the | | | | to the release of histamines which can trigger |
| bloodstream, enhances your brain's use of glucose | | | | asthma attacks. And it increases the risk for |
| (sugar) and increases the availability of substances | | | | diabetes mellitus, especially in overweight people. |
| that repair tissues. It's when all this happens | | | | This is because stress alters insulin needs. |
| repeatedly and for longer periods of time that the | | | | Psychological stress also alters acid concentration |
| real trouble starts. | | | | in the stomach. This can lead to peptic ulcers, |
| Today's psychological threats cause your stress | | | | stress ulcers, or ulcerative colitis. |
| response system to work overtime. It's designed | | | | Chronic stress can also result in plaque buildup in |
| for occasional life threats. However, daily | | | | the arteries. And of course this is often |
| stressors mean your body is over-exposed to | | | | responsible for angina or heart attacks. This isn't |
| cortisol and other stress hormones. | | | | an exhaustive list of the diseases connected with |
| It can disrupt almost all of your body's processes. | | | | psychological stress but they are the most |
| This increases your risk of obesity, insomnia, | | | | common ones. |
| digestive problems, heart disease, depression, | | | | The immune system is a delicate and complex |
| memory impairment, physical illnesses, and other | | | | system that has the mighty job of protecting |
| complications. In addition, stress affects the | | | | your body. But it needs your help because |
| immune system. | | | | psychological stress affects the immune system. |
| During brief bouts of stress, immune cells and | | | | It can't distinguish between a life-threatening |
| proteins travel faster from the spleen to where | | | | stressor and a non-life threatening one. It reacts |
| they're needed. This improves your ability to fight | | | | the same to both. And when your body is |
| infection or whatever has injured your body. | | | | constantly reacting to stress (and think twice |
| Therefore, short-term stress (regardless of the | | | | before you assume it isn't), all the systems of |
| cause), activates protective biological mechanisms | | | | your body are over-taxed. You pay a heavy |
| essential for survival. | | | | price. |
| The immune system evolved so it could quickly | | | | Learn the signs of stress. Begin today to develop |
| deal with physical threats. But long-term stress | | | | habits of regular stress management. You'll reap |
| affects the immune system by weakening it. | | | | the rewards because the physical impact of |
| Cortisol, for example, causes the system to | | | | today's stress may not show up for many years. |
| reprioritize its tasks. Let's look more closely at the | | | | But if you deal with stress effectively, you'll |
| immune system. | | | | improve your health and quality of life today and |
| The immune system protects your body from | | | | always. You can break the negative cycle of how |
| disease organisms and other foreign bodies known | | | | stress affects the immune system! |