Which Statement Best Describes the Effects That Stress Has on the Immune System?

Ever feel that when life gets really stressful, you get a cold or generally ill? If you have ever wondered, “Which of the following statements about stress effects on the immune system is most accurate?” then YOU are not the only one. I had that same question, particularly after a very stressful period at school and work left me burnt out and sick. Deep down, I wanted to know how stress influences the body and the immune system. It was kind of interesting and a little terrifying — but I learned some things about how we can fight back.

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Stress Manifests in Our Bodies

The first logical consideration when losing the match against chronic stress, aka moving into a negative state of mind, is that it manifests in our bodies. We all learn about the immune system early on; however, most people do not consider how symptoms related to chronic stress will be processed by your body, leading us to why this might happen if you read the article One Relationship Between Stress and Your Immune System and finally what I learned from that and how you can maintain a healthy immune system even when within heavy stress situations? You never know until you try!

How Does Stress Impair The Immune System?

So to summarize, you are more stressed and so in turn your immune system has weakened. It is not just that you get a cold more easily; it influences how your body deals with all types of stressors. Your body gets into fight or flight mode when under stress. That sounds brave, right? However, this reaction causes your body to produce stress hormones such as cortisol and adrenaline. They are good for the short term, but they also create trouble if you experience stress over a prolonged period. These hormones therefore make it more difficult for your immune system to function.

As I have seen in myself, after having countless assignments due before the dawn of a new day, getting into sleepless nights worrying about them always results in a sore throat or upset stomach. It’s not just a coincidence. My immune system has become weaker due to the stress hormones.

What is the effect of acute stress on the immune system?

Acute stress is the sprint — it is a short intense experience. And this type of stress can temporarily increase your immune system functionality. Weird, right? If you are confronted with an immediate threat, for example, a speech or so on, your immune system is always boosted. Think of it as a sporting event — at the final moments, your focus will be maximized. Similarly, acute stress provides your immune system with an instant power-up.

However, the flip side of this is that these benefits do not last long. Once that spike feeling dies down, you can come below normal as your system is trying to relax. Thus, some stress will wake you up, but a lot or a prolonged amount of time will weaken your system.

The True Trouble with Chronic Stress and Your Immune System

Chronic stress is where the real trouble lays. Stress is a marathon that never finishes. It continues, and then you begin to get tired and fatigued. I know this seems counterintuitive, but chronic stress floods your body with cortisol and one of the functions of cortisol is to suppress the immune system. This suppresses the white blood cells, hence making it difficult for your body to fight infections.

Chronic stress hit me hard when I was coping with family problems and stressors from school. I was exhausted, it seemed constantly, started getting sick every week, and my allergies were horrible. Like my body decided to just quit.

Research has demonstrated that not only could severe stress precede illness, but chronic stress can also reduce the speed with which your body heals cuts and wounds. Which in turn, makes you more prone to infections and inflammation. Though your defenses may drop, your body stays hyper-vigilant.

How Is Stress Linked To Inflammation?

That inflammation only occurred if an injury was present. Well, it appears that stress can cause inflammation in our bodies as well. Think of a fire alarm blaring constantly, even when there is no blaze. Chronic stress is a kind of inflammation.

It’s stress in your body that creates the overproduction of pro-inflammatory cells (these are protective elements, but too much and they will do damage). In effect, this causes physical consequences to our bodies in the form of skin eruptions or even more serious diseases like heart disease.

In my case, it came on the heels of a shit year that included getting eczema. It was my body saying, “Yo! You gotta take care of me!” Additionally, the more I stressed about it, the worse it became — and that was a cycle I needed to learn to break!

The following statement about the impact of prolonged stress on immune health is BEST?

I’d have to say that it kind of wears you down until your immune system just stops working. Your body is always susceptible, even small threats can become a large issue. Chronic stress makes it easier for you to get sick, whether we are talking about the flu or cold sores.

Perhaps most surprising to me is that stress can even reduce the effectiveness of vaccines. When you repeatedly stay stressed, the body fails to produce adequate antibodies following a vaccine. That means if you get vaccinated, your immune response may not be optimal.

Why Does Stress Have Such An Impact On The Immune System?

To put it another way, think of your immune system like an army of well-trained soldiers. Stress is that terrible commander that has them wide-eyed and alert all night long, never allowing a moment of peace or a chance to come up with a strategy. In the long run, the soldier will become so exhausted that he is unable to put forward any effort during battle.

Your immune system should be kept in check by cortisol, but when your stress is chronic, cortisol remains for too long, creating an immunosuppressive effect. Your mind is clouded by stress, and it becomes more difficult for your body to defend itself.

The Mind-Body Connection – The Impact of Stress on Your Health

Your mind-body connection is for real. I would later learn that stress is not just in your head but in every cell of your body. Under stress, your brain signals to the adrenal glands to produce more cortisol. This hormone has an impact on sleep cycles, digestion, and even emotional well-being.

You know when you are under a lot of stress and cannot sleep well for a few days, or you start having body aches somewhere? These are not merely figments of your imagination. These are telling you that stress is wreaking havoc on your immune system.

I also tried relaxation techniques such as deep breathing, yoga, and journaling to help decrease my stress. I was less tired, and I got sick fewer times with colds. Taking care of my mental health also improved my body feeling good again.

How Do You Protect Your Immune System Against Stress?

Here’s the good news! While stress is hard on your body, there are several things you can do to support your immune system feel its best! These are some things that helped me:

- Exercise Regularly

One of the most effective ways to combat stress is through exercise. A simple walk, even if fast, such as 20 mins can reduce stress hormones and increase immune cells. In the early mornings, when I started going for a jog — I had more energy and my immune system improved. Exercise helps your immune system function better and it also makes you feel happier.

- Get Enough Sleep

Sleep is really freaking important, OK. Sleep is a time when your body can repair itself and maintain a healthy immune system. The late nights working on projects to meet deadlines led to burnout and frequent illness. That was the day I realized the importance of getting some sleep. By sleeping for seven to eight hours, your body has time to balance hormones and keep your immune system strong.

- Eat Healthy and Stay Hydrated

Though it may sound obvious, a wholesome eating plan actually encourages your immune system. Those things are like water, fruits, and vegetables. I began incorporating some more leafy greens along this road as well as berries, both of which are abundant in antioxidants, and I felt a significant change in my energy levels and health overall.

- Engage in Mindfulness and Relaxation

Now I always told myself that meditation was not for me — I easily get restless. Simply spending 10 minutes a day doing mindfulness brought down my anxiety levels and helped make me more focused. There are plenty of ways to manage stress that allow your immune system to do its work, such as meditation, deep breathing, and journaling.

- Stay Connected With Friends

How is that for good news — talking and hanging out with your favorite people can reduce stress! Social connection and support can positively impact stress levels and make it less likely that stress will hurt your immune system. Taking a 5-minute break to laugh with a close friend or talking about how you feel can help reduce the stressors.