Stress And Its Effects On The Immune System

Stress is your body's response to any form of change, which can affect the immune system. It may slow bodily functions, increase heart rate, raise blood pressure, increase cholesterol, and suppress your immune system, potentially causing sickness. In addition, stress can increase your chances of engaging in unhealthy coping mechanisms that can further impact your immune system. Learning to manage stress healthily may help your immune system function optimally. 

This article explores what the term stress means, the potential impact of chronic stress, and resources for those who’d like to speak with a mental health professional about managing their stress levels. 

What is stress?

The term “stress” is defined as “physical, mental, or emotional strain or tension.” 

The topic of stress has led to extensive research regarding how the body and mind react when a change occurs. When your environment changes or requires you to make a change, it can result in feelings of uneasiness. Humans, in their search for predictability, tend to like routines because they enable people to know what to expect and how they might be affected. When some form of stimulus requires you to respond, or when a situation is different from the norm or what was expected, it can lead to physical, mental, and emotional changes, otherwise known as stress. 

Effects of stress in the immune system

Stress can exacerbate various health conditions, both mental and physical, including heart disease and depression. Your immune system is responsible for helping you feel your best. When your immune system is working well, it may build up antibodies and fight off germs and harmful bacteria you encounter. You may encounter various bacteria in your daily life and be unaware of them because they are handled effectively by your immune system. 

The immune response to chronic stress

When your immune system is overworked, it may be more difficult to prevent you from falling ill. Prolonged stress can weaken the immune response, making the body more susceptible to illnesses and infections. You may catch a cold or flu that's going around, for instance. If your immune system isn't functioning well for an extended period, you may be affected by more serious concerns. These illnesses can harm your immune system, potentially creating a cycle that's difficult to escape. 

How stress might affect your body and immune function

When you experience psychological stress, your body may initiate an evolutionary fight-or-flight response. When that fight-or-flight response is incited, it may cause several reactions in the body, including releasing adrenaline and slowing down digestion. Below are a few of the impacts of chronic stress on your immune system, both in the short term and long term. 

Slowed bodily functions

Stress and the release of adrenaline can impair bodily functions because your body preserves all your energy and strength to respond to the source of the stress. Once the stress is relieved, your body may struggle to catch up. In some cases, stress may lead to ulcers or chronic pain. 

Increased heart rate and blood pressure

The stress hormones cortisol and adrenaline may also affect your circulatory system, including your heart rate and blood pressure. Because your heart rate may rise when you're experiencing an adrenaline rush, long-term increased heart rate or blood pressure can cause problems by straining your circulatory system. If you frequently experience increased heart rate and blood pressure as a stress response, you may increase your risk of chronic hypertension, which can be a precursor to heart disease. 

Increased cholesterol

When exposed to stress, the body releases hormones like adrenaline and noradrenaline, which can influence metabolic processes, including the breakdown of fats. Chronic stress may be linked to high cholesterol levels. An excess of LDL (low-density lipoprotein) cholesterol in the blood may accumulate on arterial walls, forming plaques. Over time, these plaques can narrow arteries and rupture, potentially leading to the formation of blood clots.

Suppressed immune function and poorer immune response

Stress can increase levels of corticosteroids like cortisol in the body, potentially suppressing the immune system. When you encounter different germs and bacteria, your body’s immune response may not be able to adequately fight them off. As a result, you might experience delayed wound healing or an increased risk of infections. 

Higher likelihood of unhealthy mechanisms to cope with chronic stress

Finally, there may be indirect ways that long-term stress can affect your chances of getting sick or developing an illness. People who are stressed may be more likely to engage in harmful behaviors, including eating a poor diet, using excessive substances, smoking, experiencing a lack of sleep, and lacking exercise. These unhealthy coping mechanisms may disrupt immune responses and increase the risk of illness.

If you are struggling with substance use, contact the SAMHSA National Helpline at (800) 662-4357 to receive support and resources. Support is available 24/7.

Counseling options for improved mental health

Working with a therapist may help you discover effective strategies for managing and alleviating stress. In this way, they can potentially help you boost your immune system and physical health as well.

Online therapy to reduce stress

While therapy can be helpful for many people, some find that locating a provider, scheduling appointments, and commuting to and from a therapist's in-person office can cause more stress. 

If this is the case for you, you may wish to try online therapy instead through a platform like BetterHelp. Online therapy can enable you to receive the support and guidance you deserve from the comfort of your home at a time that fits your schedule.

When you sign up for a platform like BetterHelp, you can specify your symptoms before matching with a therapist to ensure you get connected with someone specializing in chronic stress or other mental health concerns you may be experiencing. Note that you do not have to have a mental illness or diagnosis to receive support. 

Research on online therapy for addressing the effects of stress in the immune system

While its impacts on immune functioning in particular haven’t yet been studied, research indicates that online therapy may help reduce stress. For example, consider a 2018 study that suggests that online therapy can be an effective way to address chronic stress and related challenges.