Stress produces an adrenaline rush in the fight or flight response. Chronic, prolonged stress suppresses our immunity and makes us vulnerable to illness and disease.
Under normal conditions, your body maintains a balanced state of health.
But, when exposed to constant and chronic stress, the system breaks down.
You become vulnerable--not only to stress symptoms like headaches or nausea, but also to long-term immune system disorders and other diseases and illnesses.
In fact, nearly 70% of all illness and disease can be attributed to stress.
How does stress affect the immune system? It all starts with your body’s reaction to a frightening or stressful situation.
Something triggers your brain to think that you are in danger. This is called the fight or flight response. Your body get you ready to run or fight.
Years ago, if you were a cave man, it might have been a ferocious animal chasing you. Today, it might be your wife nagging you to get something done, or the boss at work reminding you that you need to meet a deadline.
It really doesn’t matter if you are in physical danger or if the stressor is mental or emotional.
Your body reacts in the same way. It gives you an adrenaline rush and raises your cortisol levels. And, if you truly are in danger, these two chemicals help you in these ways:
You get a burst of energy.
Non-essential body functions are shut down. Digestion is slowed, and your immune system is weakened.
Heart rate is increased. Adrenaline helps pump blood to your major muscles, so that you can run or fight. Immune system function is slowed, as it is unnecessary during fight or flight.
Lower sensitivity to pain. Because your body senses an emergency, you are less sensitive, temporarily, to pain.
This is all great--if you have a REAL physical emergency, and you need to react quickly and effectively.
Chronic Stress and Immune System Function
However, what happens when stress is chronic and prolonged? How does stress affect the immune system then?
You end up with a weakened or compromised immune system, and you can end up with one of many immune system disorders.
How Does Stress Affect Immune Function and Health?
Chronic Stress Affects Your Health
When stress is excessive, prolonged and chronic, it actually breaks down our body’s defense mechanism and leaves us open and vulnerable to disease and illness. You may find that you get colds more often, or you come down with the flu.
If your stress levels remain high, you may end up with a serious illness, like heart disease or cancer.
The quality, intensity and length of the stress, all determine the effect the stress will have on your body.
But, there is another factor. Some people can handle huge amounts of stress without consequences--while others get sick, even when their stressors are not that bad.
What’s the difference? It seems that your ability to handle stress and relax are even more important than the level of your stress. How stress affects the immune system is definitely dependent on your ability to relax and handle stress and anxiety.
Stress and the immune system are definitely connected. So, it makes sense to learn how to handle stress so that you will not face having to deal with illness, disease or even autoimmune diseases:
High blood pressure
Heart Disease
Diabetes
Allergies
Asthma
Hives or stress rash
Constipation or diarrhea
Cancer
How does stress affect the immune system and our health? In many, many ways. When the immune system is dysfunctional it leaves the body vulnerable to infections, allergies, and perhaps cancer.
However, the good news is that disease and illness CAN be prevented. And the solution is relatively simple.
You can do this by learning to meditate, finding fun activities that help you to relax, and by behavior modification or changing your thought patterns to alter your emotions and your behaviors.
Knowing how stress affects the immune system can be the key to becoming healthier and happier!
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