by Tiffanie Jones

Created on: May 16, 2008

Do you always seem to be sick and you can't figure out why? A person who always seems to have cold or flu symptoms, and is also regularly under a lot of chronic stress, such as a demanding job, financial worries, or regular deadlines, may very well be experiencing stress related infection. Stress is our body's physiological response to harm or threat (Pinel 2008). For many years the idea was that infectious diseases were only physical in nature, but in the 1970's it was discovered that an increase in stress leads to an increase in the threat of infections. How can this be possible?

I am no physician by any means, but if I were and I had to explain this phenomenon to a patient, I would tell her that her stress may be what is contributing to her constant cold. I would start by explaining how our immunine system is comprised of two seperate parts, both our adaptive and innate immune systems. In the adaptive immune system infection is fought by binding to the foreign sick cells and breaking them down. This system is the one used in immunization. Once our body has fought an illness once in this way, it learns to recognize it fast and deal with it swiftly if it ever happens to return. In our innate immune system, the sick cells are attacked at the entry point to the body, causing redness, swelling, and inflammation at the point of attack. Stress can really throw our two immune systems off of kilter. Stress triggers the release of the cytokine hormones in our innate immune system in order to fight illnesses. So brief stress (eustress) is actually a good thing (Pinel 2008), while long term stressors (distress)isn't quite so great and can hurt or deteriorate our health and immunity. We have all heard the expression that we can have "too much of a good thing." Too many cytokines released means too much inflammation and the resulting infection fighting fevers.

There are many other stressors than those listed above that can lead to this weakening of our immune system such as caring for a loved one who is dying, dealing with handicaps in yourself or a child, living with obesity or other conditions that can lead to depression or low self image. In addition to these health risks, people under great stress sometimes stop eating, or overeat, they stop sleeping, or sleep entirely too much Some even increase or begin smoking or sink to other drug use. If that patient disagreed, arguing that she has no stress in her life I would ask her if her loved ones had and chronic stress that may be hurting her as well. Life stressors within the family affect everyone involved. Studies have shown that children with asthma have more asthmatic activity in homes where the parents are under immense stress.

So what's my prescription? Relax!

Reference:
Pinel, J.P.J. (2008). Biopsychology 7th ed. Boston: Allyn and Bacon

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