How the Stress Hormone Cortisol Affects Immunity

It is well known how cortisol, the stress hormone affects abdominal weight gain, but did you know elevated cortisol affects immune function? Recent research is showing how elevated cortisol affects a number of health factors.

Severe, chronic stress affects every part of your body. Physicians know that patients with severe stress have more chronic conditions such as asthma, allergies, IBS, Crohn's, and heart problems. All of these health problems are in part a factor of autoimmunity. Autoimmunity means your immune system is on overdrive and is attacking your own tissues. Stress has a great impact on your immune system shrinking the thymus gland which is one of the important immune tissues in the body. Stress also inhibits white blood cell production as well.

How does cortisol affect immunity?

Elevated Cortisol levels suppress the white blood cells ability to work effectively in your immune system. It can actually act as a signal that stops immune -system cell activity dead in its tracks. When we have short bouts of stress, Cortisol stimulates the immune system which is good. When the stress is severe and prolonged, Cortisol creates havoc. When immune cells are stimulated for long periods of time, they begin to break down, becoming ineffective in fighting off disease. These compromised, immune fighting cells then begin using their destructive abilities on healthy tissue, instead of pathogens.

Research studies have shown that during extremely stressful times such as college final exams or loss of a loved one, our immune system's natural killer cells are reduced by half. Chronic stress compromises the immune system, accelerates the growth of cancer cells, and inhibits the body's ability to fight the disease. Stress also has been shown to upset the balance of our intestinal micro flora which influences health problems such as digestion, stomach problems, diarrhea, and gas. When the intestinal flora is compromised, you are more susceptible to throat infections, colds, and flu. Candida flourishes when the intestinal micro flora is imbalanced. Researchers have proved stress leads to more problems with yeast infections, depression, infectious disease and cancer. These research findings are being reported from many different countries of the world.

To sum this up, prolonged stress raises cortisol levels. These elevated cortisol levels affect your immune function causing flare-ups in diseases such as Lupus, fibromyalgia, colds and flu. It is important to find a way to lower stress in your life. You must either get rid of the stress or change your reaction to that stress. In today's uncertain, troubled lifestyle where people are losing jobs and homes every day, you must find a way to give your mind and body a break. If you do not, your health will be impacted in a negative way.

Stress relief suggestions include exercise, music, yoga, hobbies, gardening, a hot bath, candles, religious activity, volunteer work, meditation and guided imagery. It is imperative you reduce your stress level to improve your health. When you reduce stress, you reduce Cortisol production, and you will see improvement in weight management and chronic health problems.

References:

The Cortisol Connection, Shawn Talbott, PH.D.,FACSM, 2^nd Edition, Hunter House publishers,

http://www.ahealthyme.com/topic/stressimmune