Effects of Chronic Stress on the immune system
-causes many other diseases (e.g. high blood pressure, heart diseases)
-causes stress-related ailments (e.g. ulcers, asthma, migraine headaches)
-causes many other diseases (e.g. high blood pressure, heart diseases)
-causes stress-related ailments (e.g. ulcers, asthma, migraine headaches)
Biological effects of Chronic Stress on the immune system
-increased sympathetic activity leads to a decrease to the cellular immunity
-migration of immune cells to other parts of the body leads to autoimmune worsening as well as allergic conditions
-increased sympathetic activity leads to a decrease to the cellular immunity
-migration of immune cells to other parts of the body leads to autoimmune worsening as well as allergic conditions
Stress and the immune system
The types of immune cells must coordinate their actions, and they do that by sending each other signals in the form of molecules that they make in factories within the cell. These immune cells go through the bloodstream to signal the brain or activate nerves nearby that signal the brain (National Institute of Health, 2010).
The types of immune cells must coordinate their actions, and they do that by sending each other signals in the form of molecules that they make in factories within the cell. These immune cells go through the bloodstream to signal the brain or activate nerves nearby that signal the brain (National Institute of Health, 2010).
In response to chronic stress, much stress hormones will be pumped out in response to it. Immune cells are then being bathed in molecules which are vitally telling them to stop fighting. Hence, in such situations of chronic stress, the immune cells become less capable to respond to harmful bacteria and viruses (National Institute of Health, 2010).
Immune system and the brain
Different types of immune cells will coordinate their actions by sending signals to each other. The bloodstream is also another channel for the cells to signal the brain. Such signaling molecules from the immune system can also activate the part of the brain that controls the stress response- the hypothalamus.
Different types of immune cells will coordinate their actions by sending signals to each other. The bloodstream is also another channel for the cells to signal the brain. Such signaling molecules from the immune system can also activate the part of the brain that controls the stress response- the hypothalamus.
In the hypothalamus, any hypothalamic lesions can affect several immune variables, and can cause inhibition of experimentally induced allergic shock (Stein, Schleifer, & Keller, 1981). Also, with the release of hormones from both the pituitary and adrenal glands, the hypothalamus can cause blood levels of the hormone cortisol to rise. This refers to the increase of the major steroid hormone that tides us through stressful situations (National Institute of Health, 2010).
The cerebral cortex is also related to the immune system (Blomgren, Blom, & Ullén, 1986; Kang et al., 1991; Renoux, Biziere, Renoux, Bardos, & Degenne, 1987).
