The immune system is our body's main line of defense when it comes to intruders, such as infections that can make us sick. Think of it as a small but powerful army that is always on standby to defend its homeland (aka your corps).
Although some of what keeps our immune systems healthy can be attributed to genetics, there are some practices, like eating right and exercising, that help keep things running smoothly. In the same way, there are factors that can weaken our immune system, and stress is one of the most important.
4 links between stress and the immune system
Stress can suppress the power of the immune response
Cortisol, the essential hormone our body produces to regulate itself, is produced in abundance when we experience chronic stress. This can pose a host of health risks, but the immune response in particular can be compromised.
According to a June 2014 review published in Age, glucocorticoids, which are byproducts of stress, can slow down the production of B cells and T cells, the main cellular components of the immune system.
Each and every day, your body produces a bit of cortisol and it helps regulate everything. It is part of the fight or flight response, and for short periods of time there is no problem with that. Getting an extra burst of cortisol when you're trying to get away from a tiger, that's a good thing.
But when cortisol is pumped into the blood at high levels for long periods, the body adapts and gets used to the extra amounts. This, in turn, puts the body at greater risk for inflammation and therefore a weaker immune system.
Diseases can be more difficult to treat
There is clear evidence that stress, anxiety, and depression make illnesses more difficult to treat.
Too much stress negatively regulates your immune system, so you are not fighting the infection as well, and in these cases, the immune system is not as active as it could be.
On the other hand, low levels of stress can make a positive difference in treatment. Never underestimate the power of a calm mind to improve the symptoms we suffer from.
Autoimmune diseases are more likely
Intense levels of stress can potentially increase your chances of developing an autoimmune disease, according to a June 2018 study published in the Journal of American Medicine. The researchers compared more than 106,000 people who were diagnosed with stress disorders with more than 1 million people who did not have them and found that it was linked to a 36 percent increased risk of developing dozens of autoimmune diseases , such as Crohn's disease, psoriasis, and rheumatoid arthritis.
Patients who suffer severe emotional reactions after trauma or other life stressors should seek medical treatment due to the risk of chronicity of these symptoms and therefore further deterioration in health, such as the increased risk of autoimmune disease .
Has been linked to an increased risk of cancer
Whether stress can actually cause cancer is still up for debate. But evidence suggests it is linked to an increased risk of getting the disease.
An October 2017 study published in Scientific Reports examined the link between stress levels and cancer in more than 100,000 people. Although the researchers did not find a correlation between short-term stress and cancer, they did find that those who experienced constant, high-level stress for prolonged periods had an 11 percent higher risk of developing cancer . This correlation was found to be more likely in men.
Similarly, researchers found a significant link between job stress and cancer risk in a meta-analysis of observational studies published in a December 2018 issue of the International Journal of Cancer. More specifically, they found an association between job stress and the risk of colorectal, lung, and esophageal cancer, and no association with the risk of prostate, ovarian, or breast cancer.
