Introduction
Stress is the cause of numerous disorders and is typically attributed to the plague of modern society. The topic’s importance is conditioned by the fact that now an individual is highly susceptible to immense emotional strain due to the need to solve many problems at once. Hence, it is vital to emphasize how stress impacts the human body to demonstrate the necessity of minimizing it to prevent any health implications. Whilst numerous factors affect the changes in the immune system, stress remains one of the most potent mechanisms that contribute to immunity failure.
Discussion
The step-by-step process of the stress mechanism will be described in this section. With strong emotions, cortisol is released into the blood, which is called the stress hormone. High concentrations of this hormone inhibit the immune system. If stress passes quickly, the body easily recovers after the release of cortisol. However, if the emotional strain is chronic, there is no recovery; that is, the cortisol level is always higher than usual. This condition provokes the development of an inflammatory reaction that “distracts” the immune system from fighting viruses and bacteria. In addition, prolonged stress contributes to the disruption of T-lymphocytes (Choukèr 54). These cells are needed by the body to neutralize foreign microorganisms. T-cells are formed in the bone marrow, which migrates to the thymus (thymus gland) and ripens there. With an increase in the concentration of glucocorticoids, the thymus decreases in size – and the formation of immune cells is disrupted.
The primary fundamental assumption is that emotionally intense experiences suppress immune responses, which reduces the number of cells that produce antibodies. Antibodies are the body’s “weapon” with which it destroys bacteria and viruses(Choukèr 57). With a decrease in immunity, a person is more susceptible to frequent acute respiratory infections and acute respiratory infections; the recovery process is delayed, and the risk of complications increases.
The entire immune system is subject to regular changes. However, a drastic decrease in immunity due to stress is also observed against the background of a reduction in the number of natural killers (NK lymphocytes) (Choukèr 36). These cells of the immune system are the first level of protection against cancer. Furthermore, under stress, the processes of interaction between the nervous and immune systems are disrupted. This is manifested, in particular, by the development of chronic fatigue syndrome. In this condition, a person gets tired quickly and constantly feels weak. The immune system is in a passive state and reacts more slowly to threats.
With intense and constant experiences, macrophages, at some point, can secrete a large number of cytokines-signaling molecules that are responsible for the formation of an inflammatory response. If there are too many cytokines, a cytokine storm occurs (Choukèr 34). With a cytokine storm, the tissues of the focus of inflammation are rapidly destroyed, affecting neighboring tissues – this process can take over an entire organ. Cytokine storm is a dangerous body reaction; it can even lead to death.
What is more, with prolonged stress, the synthesis of melatonin, the “sleep hormone,” is disrupted, which means that night sleep worsens. As a result, the immune and endocrine systems suffer (Choukèr 67). Violations are manifested by various symptoms, including frequent illnesses due to weakened immunity. The primary sign that a body is exposed to threat is the lack of sleep or feeling tired despite having a stable regime.
The possible problems include the fact that the immune system can also be suppressed by other factors. For instance, taking specific medications or having hormone disorders could be the reason for immunity damage, meaning stress is not the core root. In addition, immune diseases are often confused with hormonal disorders. They are connected but hormones can be fixed without altering immunity. Ultimately, with short-term stress effects, unlike the effects of chronic stress, there are no clinical manifestations of psychological and physiological dysfunctions associated with a violation of the immune system (Choukèr 55). Underestimation of the state of health, inadequate treatment and, as a result, aggravation of the picture of the disease can be dangerous here.
Hence, it is essential to keep in mind that stress is a major contributor to immune system damage. Strong emotions evoked by negative experiences raise the cortisol level causing alterations in blood structure. Moreover, an important role is played by the significance of a stressful event and personal characteristics – everyone has a different stress threshold, resistance to it, and behavior strategies. Under stress, the tension of the immune system and the activity of the body’s natural defenses decreases in people whose condition is characterized by despondency, despair, gloomy forebodings, fear, and anxiety (Choukèr 113). Conversely, the immune system is more stable in people who are optimistic.
Conclusion
In summation, the negative effect of chronic stress on the immune system has also been confirmed by practical experiments. The stress response is realized by the nervous and endocrine systems. There is a violation of biochemical processes in the body, which leads to undesirable changes in tissues and organs. The organs responsible for immunity are affected. The level of hormones – glucocorticoids – increases sharply in the blood, the high concentration of which suppresses the body’s immune system. It has always been believed that its high level depresses the immune system and causes deviations in the treatment, which takes much time.
Work Cited
Choukèr, Alexander. Stress Challenges and Immunity in Space. Springer Nature, 2019.