For a long time psychologists were aware of the impact stress had on the body's ability to fight infections, but now a study has shown how stress also plays a major influence in altering the functions of the immune system.

Studies on Stress and the Immune System

• 293 stress-related studies were performed between the years of 1960 and 2001

• 18,941 subjects were evaluated in the studies

Findings From the Studies

• Periods of short-term stress triggered the immune system to prepare for injury or infection, similar to a "flight or fright" response

• Long-term stress caused excessive wear on the body and activated a deterioration of the immune system

• The immune systems of the elderly and those already suffering with some kind of illness were less capable of coping with stressful situations

Examples of the Five Stressors Used in the Studies

• Acute time-limited stressors: Stress such as that brought on from speaking in front of large groups of people

• Brief naturalistic stressors: Challenges that occur throughout certain points in a person's life such as taking school exams

• Stressful event sequences: A specific life-changing event such as loss of a loved one in which the stress will eventually subside

• Chronic stressors: Stress induced by an extreme change in lifestyle such as becoming a caregiver for a chronically ill person or becoming permanently disabled from an accident in which there seems to be no light at the end of the tunnel

• Distant Stressors: Stress that is the result of a traumatic event from the past that continues to wreak havoc on the immune system such as child abuse or post-traumatic stress experienced by war veterans

Researchers concluded that the stressors that most negatively compromised the immune system were the chronic stressors. Researchers also discovered the longer the duration of stress or perceived length of the stress, the less the body's ability to adapt to the stressful situation. It was determined this kind of stress could lead to serious negative health repercussions beginning with attacking the immune system at the cellular level then going after the overall broader functions of the immune system.

Researchers plan to conduct future studies to evaluate the degree that stress-related changes altered the immune system and how it could result in leaving otherwise healthy individuals vulnerable to diseases.

Psychological Bulletin July 4, 2004, Full-Text PDF (30 pages)

Dr. Mercola's Comments:

Stress is a large part of the reason why most chronic illness develops and this in-depth study reinforces this theory particularly when it comes to individuals facing long-term stress. Stress can seriously impact your health and when you find ways to control stress in your life you could significantly reduce your risk of developing stress-induced diseases such as heart disease and type 2 diabetes. I believe the most powerful intervention for stress is some form of prayer. Many who do not have access to some advanced psychotherapy interventions also find help with a written form of prayer called journaling. This is where one writes or types non-stop every day for 30 minutes. It is an incredibly powerful and profound healing technique. One does not have to save the written information and should delete or burn the document after it is written so he or she will feel free to write whatever is concerning them. Along these lines, another effective strategy in dealing with stress that I personally use is the Insight audio CD. It's an exceptional tool to help you dramatically reduce stress. Related Articles: Five Simple Strategies to Reduce Stress and Eliminate Exhaustion Stress Management May Help Heart Disease Patients More Evidence That Stress is Major Factor for Infections Stress Treatments Helps Control Type 2 Diabetes Beware of Colds If You Are Under Stress Most Common Cause of Heart Attacks