How Does Stress Affect the Immune System?

This paper explores how stress affects the immune system.

The body's response to stress is complex and involves many systems, including the endocrine and nervous systems. The hormones released during the stress response can have wide-ranging effects, one of which is to suppress the immune system. This suppression can make a person more susceptible to infection and illness. In addition, chronic stress has been linked to a number of health problems, including heart disease, high blood pressure, diabetes, and depression.

Stress reduces the body's ability to fight antigens, or foreign substances that can cause disease. When the body is under stress, it diverts energy away from non-essential systems, including the immune system. This suppression of the immune system can make a person more susceptible to infection and illness.

There are a number of ways in which stress can affect the immune system. For example, stress can cause the release of hormones that can suppress the immune system. In addition, chronic stress has been linked to a number of health problems, including heart disease, high blood pressure, diabetes, and depression. These health problems can also weaken the immune system.

Stressful events can trigger a wide range of physical and emotional responses. The body's response to stress is complex and involves many systems, including the endocrine and nervous systems. The hormones released during the stress response can have wide-ranging effects, one of which is to suppress the immune system. This suppression can make a person more susceptible to infection and illness.

In addition to its effects on the immune system, stress can also affect other systems in the body. For example, stress can increase heart rate and blood pressure. Chronic stress has been linked to a number of health problems, including heart disease, high blood pressure, diabetes, and depression. These health problems can also weaken the immune system.