Researchers have proved time and time again that stress affects our immune systems.

There are killer stresses that suppress the immune system, and if something comes along in the process, you can become very ill, and perhaps die. Realize this, and you can protect yourself my managing stress.

Facts About Stress and The Immune System

1. Stress has a direct effect on our immune systems.

2. The acute stressors evoke our “fight or flight” response, and our immune system prepares itself for defense. The stressors force chemicals also into our system that boost the power of our immune systems.

3. Those long-term chronic stressors are the killer stressors, and reduce and gradually destroy the effectiveness of our immune systems.

4. The ill or elderly will be more effected by stress than the well or young person, with usually very negative effects.

Categorizing the Stressors

Instant Stressors.

These are the ones that evoke responses from our own self-defense system, and produce quick-acting, all-purpose cells that can attack many pathogens. This kind of stressor for a time boosts our natural immunity

Short-term Anxiety Stressors:

These are the type when going for a job application, performing in public, examinations and the like. These too, if are only short-termed, can boost our natural immunity. However, if these stressors draw themselves out (such a being in a trial or legal event), they will turn into negative stressors and suppress the immune system.

Traumatic Stressful events:

These are the anxiety of impending disaster (natural or economic), or serious illness of a loved one. These stresses greatly reduce one’s immune system, and even when the events are over, one can still suffer the effects of post-traumatic stress syndrome.

Killer Stressors. The Chronic Ones:

These are the long-term stressors that make one change their life and life-style. Good examples of these are being a refugee and changing countries forcibly, becoming a care-giver to a love one, or becoming one who needs a care-giver. All of these are stresses without end, and are called killer stressors, as they often result in illness due to the impaired and suppressed immune system.

Post-Traumatic Stress Syndrome.

PTSS acts as real threat to one’s immune system. It is in illness in itself, and is based on a distant stressful event that has left the person changed. These people have suppressed immune systems generally.

The major point to remember here is that knowing what the killer stressors can do to our immune system and general health, we must learn then some form of stress management. Having so learned these techniques, we can minimize the negative effects stress can (and does) have on our immune systems.

There are many methods of stress management such as yoga, certain forms of modified martial arts, philosophical systems such as employment of the Konov Principle, and also the well-understood power of prayer, faith and religion. These all serve to limit or modify the effects of killer stressors.

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Here we answer some commonly asked questions about the effect of stress on the immune system, as well as questions like “how do you boost your immune system”. We have found that these are frequently asked questions and hope to help people find their answers.

What is the effect of stress on the immune system?

Short term stress like dealing with an attack or playing a sport does not negatively affect the immune system. The spleen is instructed to release more red and white blood cells. The red blood cells increase oxygen supply to the lungs and heart while the white blood cells are directed to portions of the body most likely to be injured or become infected, namely the skin, bone marrow and lymph nodes.

Chronic stress, on the other hand, appears to blunt immune system responses. Studies have shown that those who work in high pressure jobs, have continuous financial problems, marital difficulties or any of the other problems that can cause chronic stress, have lower than normal white blood cell counts, are more vulnerable to colds and other viruses, take longer to recover from them and experience worse symptoms than do people who are under less stress.

How do you boost your immune system?

There are many ways, including good nutrition and proper rest. There are a number of dietary and health supplements that can boost the immune system including Vitamin C, Andrographis paniculata (AP) and Beta Glucans.

How do you boost your immune system if you are under chronic stress?

If you cannot reduce the stress in your life, then vitamins and health supplements are the only choice.

Can supplements counteract the effect of stress on the immune system?

Clinical studies have not been done concerning the improvement in immune system responses among people who use health supplements and are under chronic stress. Studies have shown that AP increases white blood cell counts in person’s using the herb, which could counteract the lowered white blood cell counts in persons under chronic stress.

How do you boost your immune system if you work or live in a high risk environment?

People at higher risk for infection can benefit greatly from the use of a health supplement for immune system enhancement. For more information about products that naturally boost immune system performance, visit www.immune-system-booster-guide.com.

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The aging process does increase the need to strengthen the immune system. Aging is not synonymous with
illness. However, getting older does increase the risk for many diseases and disorders. Overall, elderly people have an
increased rate of chronic disorders, arteriosclerosis, infections, autoimmune disorders, and cancer.

This increased risk may be caused, in part, by the nature of these disorders. Most of the chronic disorders such as
arteriosclerosis are slowly progressive and do not show symptoms until they have been progressing for years.

Another significant part of this increased risk is probably related to aging changes in the immune system. The immune
system protects against diseases. It seeks out and destroys viruses, bacteria, fungi, and cancerous cells before they
can damage the body. It learns to tell the difference between “self” tissue and “non-self” particles. If you
strengthen the immune system you enhance your protection against those diseases.

Strengthen the immune system to respond to aging changes

The thymus, one of the organs of the immune system, is the site where certain immune cells called T lymphocytes or
T cells mature. The thymus begins to shrink (atrophy) after adolescence. By middle age it is only about 15% of its
maximum size.

Some of the T cells directly kill foreign particles. Others help coordinate other parts of the immune system, which
are specialized to attack different types of infections.

Although the number of T cells does not decrease with aging, T cell function decreases. This causes a weakening of
the parts of the immune system controlled by these T cells. If the T cell function are enhanced this will strengthen
the immune system.

Strengthen the immune system to counter the effects of aging changes

There is a slow, steady decrease in immunity after young adulthood. When the body is exposed to bacteria or other
microorganisms (by an actual exposure or by immunization), fewer protective antibodies may be formed or they may be
formed at a slower rate.Flu shots or other immunizations may be less effective, and protection may not last as long
as expected.

Later in life, the immune system also seems to become less tolerant of the body’s own cells. Sometimes an autoimmune
disorder develops — normal tissue is mistaken for non-self tissue, and immune cells attack certain organs or tissues.

The immune system becomes less able to detect malignant cells, and cancer risk also increases with age as a result.

The immune system also becomes less able to detect foreign particles, and infection risk is greater.

Other things also increase the risk of infections. Sensation changes, gait changes, changes in the skin structure,
and other “normal aging changes” increase the risk of injury in which bacteria can enter broken skin. Illness or
surgery can further weaken the immune system, making the body more susceptible to subsequent infections. Diabetes,
which is also more prevalent with age, can also lead to decreased immunity.

If you strengthen the immune system it will also reduce the risk of inflammation and slow wound healing. Inflammation
is an immune response, when the immune system thinks there is trouble, it sends more cells to the site of the problem
and this causes swelling, pain, redness, warmth and irritation, which are the hallmarks of inflammation. Inflammation
often indicates infection, but may also occur due to autoimmune attack on “self” tissue as well.

Many older people heal more slowly. This may be directly related to changes in the immune system, or it may be a
consequence of other problems such as diabetes or arteriosclerosis, which leads to decreased blood flow to some
parts of the body such as the lower extremities.

Also, many older people take anti-inflammatory medications (to control conditions such as arthritis) and these are
also known to slow wound healing.

How to strengthen the immune system

Just as routine immunizations are important to prevent illness in children, a few routine immunizations are important
as we get older. Adult tetanus (Td) immunizations should be given every 10 years (a booster may be given sooner if
there is a “dirty” wound).

Your health care provider may recommend other immunizations, including pneumovax (to prevent pneumonia or its
complications), flu vaccine, hepatitis immunization, or others. These optional immunizations are not necessary for
ALL older people, but are appropriate for some.

Maintaining your body in good physical condition is important to strenghten the immune system. Wheter you are in
good shape or not you should also give your system a little extra support with health supplements. Perhaps obvious,
here are the “must do’s” to strengthen the immune system:

• Exercise
• Eat a well-balanced diet
• Stop smoking
• Minimize alcohol use. Moderate drinking seems to have some health benefits, but excessive drinking can cause serious
  damage
• Use safety measures to avoid falls and other injuries
• Take good health supplements specifically created to strengthen the immune system

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