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Q: The body's immune system ( Answered,   5 Comments )
Question  
Subject: The body's immune system
Category: Family and Home > Seniors
Asked by: grandma365-ga
List Price: $5.00
Posted: 07 Apr 2005 19:26 PDT
Expires: 07 May 2005 19:26 PDT
Question ID: 506564
Where is there medical information on the relationship between stress
and the body's immune system?  Or how does stress affect the immune
system?

carole Johns
Answer  
Subject: Re: The body's immune system
Answered By: crabcakes-ga on 07 Apr 2005 20:00 PDT
 
Hello Grandma365,

    As a grandma myself, I can vouch that stress DOES affect the
immune system! I'm sure you'll find the following links informative.
If this is not the type of information you are seeking, please do not
rate this answer untill you have asked for an Answer Clarification.
This will allow me to further assist you, if possible.


"Because research in the United States is showing considerable effects
from stress on the immune system, from how well the 'flu vaccine
produces immunity, right down to how long it takes a wound to heal in
people who are caring for someone with Alzheimer's disease."
http://www.abc.net.au/rn/talks/8.30/helthrpt/stories/s10844.htm

"Chronic stress not only makes people more vulnerable to catching
illnesses but can also impair their immune system's ability to respond
to its own anti-inflammatory signals that are triggered by certain
hormones, say researchers, possibly altering the course of an
inflammatory disease. This finding is reported on in the November
issue of Health Psychology, published by the American Psychological
Association (APA).

Chronic stress seems to impair the immune system's capacity to respond
to glucocorticoid hormones that normally are responsible for
terminating an inflammatory response following infection and/or
injury, according to researchers Gregory E. Miller, Ph.D., of
Washington University at St. Louis and colleagues. To examine what
happens to people's immune systems during on-going stressful
situations, the researchers compared 25 healthy parents with children
undergoing treatment for pediatric cancer with 25 healthy parents with
healthy children on measures of mental health, effects of social
support and certain immune system responses. All the parents had blood
drawn at the initial session and salivary cortisol samples taken at
intermittent times over two days."
http://www.apa.org/releases/chronicstress.html


"There is some scientific evidence that stress does weaken our
immunity.  Two studies looking at whether stress affected cancer
recurrence had conflicting results.  While no one knows whether
strengthening immunity can help to cure cancer, most doctors and
nurses agree that reducing stress is a good thing to do.

While many life stresses cannot be avoided altogether, there are ways
of trying not to let things get to you.  Many complementary therapies
such as meditation, massage and reflexology, for example, can be very
relaxing."
http://www.cancerhelp.org.uk/help/default.asp?page=118#STRESS


"Certain social interactions may weaken the immune system to the point
it can't control inflammation, new research suggests. In turn, the
inflammation may cause irreversible organ and tissue damage."
http://researchnews.osu.edu/archive/ratshock.htm


"Chronic psychological stress not only leads to depression, it impairs
the ability of the immune system to heed ordinary signals. It paves
the way for serious cardiac infections and allergic illnesses by
prolonging inflammatory processes in the body."
http://cms.psychologytoday.com/articles/pto-20021203-000005.html


There are many links on these sites:
http://stress.about.com/od/immunesystem/

http://www.newstarget.com/immune_system.html


"Breast cancer  patients who feel high levels of stress concerning
their diagnosis and treatment show evidence of a weakened immune
system compared to patients experiencing less stress, a new
preliminary study shows.

Researchers found that the highly stressed women had lower levels of
natural killer cells than women who reported less stress. Natural
killer cells are one vital weapon making up the immune system."
http://www.monitor.net/monitor/8-19-95/stress.html


"This is a review of the psychological field of psychoneuroimmunology
(PNI) and how psychopathology has an impact on the immune system. Two
areas of study of PNI are examined: first, how the psychosocial
environment affects the health of an individual along with the impact
stressors play on the immune system; second, the effects of
psychopathology on the immune system and how perceived stresses are
assessed. Coping strategies are also looked at where in some cases
they have shown abilities in strengthening the immune system. The
understanding of PNI is crucial in understanding the association
between immunity, depression, stressors, and psychosocial aspects,
along with their interactions with each other and their causal
relations."
http://www.personalityresearch.org/papers/beaton.html



"It is well known that asthma, diabetes, various gastro-intestinal
disorders, heart disease and viral infections are influenced by
stress, but to what extent? When the immune system is suppressed, as
it is under stress, latent viruses can obviously stage a comeback, but
how does stress affect non-viral diseases?"
http://www.econ.uiuc.edu/~hanko/Bio/stress.html

Strengthen your immune system
http://www.thevegetariansite.com/health_stress.htm

http://www.breastcancer.org/immune_boost.html

These answers by my colleagues may interest you as well
http://answers.google.com/answers/threadview?id=436032

http://answers.google.com/answers/threadview?id=392176

http://answers.google.com/answers/threadview?id=178398

Sincerely, Crabcakes

Search Terms
Stress + immune system
Comments  
Subject: Re: The body's immune system
From: probonopublico-ga on 07 Apr 2005 22:04 PDT
 
Wow, Crabcakes ... You a Grandma!

I never knew whether you were male or female.

At last, you have given me a clue.

All the Very Best

Bryan
Subject: Re: The body's immune system
From: twisted_angel-ga on 07 Apr 2005 22:34 PDT
 
This is some IMMUNE SYSTEM !
Subject: Re: The body's immune system
From: crabcakes-ga on 07 Apr 2005 23:47 PDT
 
Bryan, I am a VERY young grandmother though!  :-)
Subject: Re: The body's immune system
From: steph53-ga on 08 Apr 2005 06:05 PDT
 
Hi...

I'm a very YOUNG grandma too : )  

A couple of years ago, while separating from my now ex-husband, I
sufferred extreme stress. The result of the stress was that I lost
TONS of weight without even trying. I could not eat whatsover, and
survived on high calorie shakes. Food would get stuck in my throat.

So I can vouch for all, stress can kill.

Steph53
Subject: Re: The body's immune system
From: probonopublico-ga on 08 Apr 2005 08:02 PDT
 
Steph

If you really did lose TONS of weight then you must have been a very heavy lady.

Would it be possible to have photos taken before and after?

Many thanks!

Doubting Bryan

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