Does stress effect the immune system?

The short answer is “yes”. Stress effects all the systems of the body. Questions concerning stress and the immune system typically refer to chronic stress, but to better understand the effect, it is important to look at acute or short-term stress as well.

How does acute stress effect the immune system?

Short tem or acute stress and the immune system reactions to it are best explained by looking at a possible scenario that could bring about these effects. If you walked into your house and found a burglar, then there would be immediate responses in your body to this real threat. The overall bodily responses are referred to as stress. And the immune system is only one place where responses are noted. Responses to acute stress effect the immune system by triggering the spleen to discharge more white blood cells and directing those white blood cells to portions of the body that are more likely to be injured by an attack, namely the skin, bone marrow and lymph nodes. At the same time, responses to this acute stress effect the immune system by reducing less important cellular activities temporarily.

How does chronic stress effect the immune system?

Once the immediate danger has passed, the body systems are supposed to return to normal, enter a more relaxed state and go about normally cellular activities. Experience prolonged or chronic stress and the immune system can be blunted. Numerous studies have shown that responses to chronic stress effect the immune system differently than acute stress. People who are under chronic stress have lower than normal white blood cell counts, are more vulnerable to colds and other viruses and take longer to recover from them. They are more likely to experience more severe symptoms than people who are not under a great deal of stress and the immune system is only one area of the body that can be affected.

Does chronic stress effect the immune system response to immunizations?

Studies have shown that chronic stress may impair a person’s response to immunizations. The relationship between stress and the immune system is currently being studied by scientists and researchers, particularly as stress and the immune system pertains to AIDS and other diseases and dysfunctions of the immune system.

If you are concerned about how responses to stress effect the immune system, then you may feel that you are in a stressful situation over which you have no control. It may not be possible to leave a high-pressure job in order to reduce your stress level and if doing so would cause financial problems, you could actually increase your stress and the immune system could suffer. Good nutrition, regular exercise and natural products that help boost the immune system may help you protect yourself from the effects of chronic stress. For more information about stress and the immune system, visit www.immune-system-booster-guide.com.

Patsy Hamilton has more than twenty years experience as a health care professional and currently writes informational articles for the Immune System Booster Guide. To learn more about products that naturally boost the immune system visit http://www.immune-system-booster-guide.com.

Source: www.articlesphere.com