Immunosuppression
- The immune system comprises cells, mainly white blood cells (leucocytes), travelling through the bloodstream to defend the body against antigens (foreign substances), like bacteria, viruses and cancerous cells
- Many of these leucocytes secrete antibodies which bind to antigens and destroy them
- Immunosuppression is the suppression of the body’s immune system by the hormone cortisol, which is produced in the adrenal cortex through the activation of the HPA when subject to a chronic (ongoing) stressor
- Stress does not actually cause infections, but with chronic stress the immune system’s ability to fight off antigens is reduced and infection becomes more likely
- Infection becomes more likely because when cortisol is produced continuously it interferes with leucocyte activity and the production of antibodies
- This reduction in the immune system’s ability to fight off infection when under chropnic stress is thought to be why many people get a cold around exam time
Viruses like colds can be the result of chronic stress.