How Does Stress Cause Illness?

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THE UNBOUNDED SPIRIT

How Does Stress Cause Illness?

There is good evidence that stress can increase the chances of someone becoming ill. There are two major ways in which stress can cause illness: Directly, by reducing the bodys ability to fight illness. Indirectly, by leading the stressed individual to adopt an unhealthy lifestyle (e.g., increased smoking and drinking).

Immune System
Stress may cause illness by impairing the workings of the immune system. The organs of the body containing most of the immune systems cells are the bone marrow, lymph nodes, thymus, tonsils, spleen, appendix, and small intestines. The term psychoneuroimmunology refers to the study of the effects of stress and other psychological factors on the immune system. Stress can affect the immune system fairly directly. Alternatively, it can affect the immune system indirectly via an unhealthy lifestyle. Cells in the immune system have receptors for various hormones and neurotransmitters involved in the stress response could influence the functioning of the immune system. How does the immune system work? The cells within the immune system are known as white blood cells (leucocytes). These cells identify and destroy foreign bodies (antigens) such as viruses. In addition, the presence of antigens leads to the production of antibodies. Antibodies are produced in the blood. They are protein

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molecules attaching themselves to antigens, and marking them out for later destruction. There are several kinds of white blood cells or leukocytes within the immune system including T cells, B cells, and natural killer cells. T cells destroy invaders, and T-helper cells increase immunological activity. These T-helper cells are attacked by HIV, the virus causing AIDS, B cells produce antibodies. Natural killer cells are involved in the fight against both viruses and tumours. How can we assess the functioning of the immune system? It is very difficult to gain direct access to the cells of the immune system. However, circulating blood carries immune components between organs of the immune system and areas of inflammation, and so analysis of such blood provides indirect evidence of the functioning of the immune system. Three measures of intact immune system functioning are as follows: The increase in lymphocyte cells in response to mitogens, which are lymphocyte activators The level of activity of natural killer cells The production of antibodies, especially secretory immunoglobulin A (sIgA). It is tempting (but wrong!) to assume that high levels of the above measures indicate the immune system is functioning well, whereas low levels mean the immune system is impaired. As Evans, Claw, and Hucklebridge (1997, p. 303) pointed out, we should, think of the immune stem as striving to maintain a state of delicate balance. Thus, it is hard to interpret changes in the immune system functioning. In discussing the evidence, I will sometimes refer to impaired functioning of the immune system, but this should be regarded as shorthand for reduced levels of one or more measures of immune system functioning.

Evidence
Schliefer, Keller, Camerino, Thornton, and Stein (1983) found stress can alter the functioning of the immune system. They compared the functioning of the immune system in the husbands of women with breast cancer. The husbands immune system seemed to function less well after their wives had died than before, showing the impact of bereavements on the immune system. Stress can affect natural killer cell cytotoxicity, which is of major importance in the defense against various infections and cancer. Reduced levels of natural killer cell cytotoxicity have been found in people who are highly stressed, including students facing important examinations, bereaved individuals, and those who are

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severely depressed (Ogden, 1996). Goodkin et al. (1992) studied natural killer cell cytoxicity in HIV-positive homosexual men having no physical symptoms when tested. The level of natural killer cell cytoxicity was higher among those men having plenty og vitamin A in their diet and who dank little alcohol. These findings may reflect an indirect effect of stress on the immune system, with the most stressed men adopting a less healthy lifestyle than thre others in terms of diet and alcohol use. In addition, those HIV men with an active coping style focusing on (amnd expressing) their emotions had higher levels of natural killer cell cytoxicity than those with other coping styles. This suggests a direct effect of stress on the immune system. Herbert and Cohen (1993) reported a meta-analysis based on the findings from 38 studies. They reported that long-term stressors of several kings reduces various aspects of immune system functioning. As Herbert and Cohen (p. 373) concluded, We find substantial evidence for a relation between stress and immune measures in humans. So far we have considered the effects of long-term stress on the immune system, and we have seen that its functioning is often reduced by such stress. However, the effects are rather different with short-term stress, which can produce an improvement in at least some aspects of immune system functioning. For example, Zeier, Brauchli, and Joller-Jemelka (1996) studied air traffic controllers on a work shift. During this shift, they showed an increase in secretory immunoglobulin A (sIgA), suggesting there was an enhanced immune system functioning. Delahanry et al. (1996) looked at the effects of short-term stress under laboratory conditions. Their participants performed a mental arithmetic task with harassment, immersed their hand in cold water at 3C , or read magazines. There was greater natural killer cell activity during the two stressful tasks than during the control task of reading magazines, suggesting enhanced functioning of the immune system. Source: Mechanisms: How does stress cause illness?, from Psychology: An International Perspective (book), by Michael W. Eysenck Photo courtesy of Bhernandez
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05-Mar-13