Stress and the immune system

[Guest guest]

Chronic Stress May Hinder Immune Response

Wed Nov 6, 6:18 PM ET

By Mulvihill

NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - A study of parents with children being

treated for cancer suggests that chronic stress may hamper a naturally

occurring anti-inflammatory response in the body.

Many previous studies have implicated stress as playing a role in a

plethora of ills including upper respiratory infections, progression of

heart disease and autoimmune diseases, according to Dr.

E. of Washington University in St. Louis, Missouri, and

colleagues.

To further understand the relationship between stress and the immune

system, and colleagues studied the effects of stress hormones

on white blood cells used by the body to fight infection.

Ordinarily, white blood cells will concentrate in the area of injury or

infection where they release chemicals called cytokines to fend off

the invaders--a process generally known as inflammation. While

inflammation can help fight infection, too much can actually be

damaging. The process is naturally stopped in the body when levels

of a stress hormone, cortisol, begin to rise.

In the current study, 's team took blood samples from 25 parents

who had children with cancer--and presumably were undergoing a lot

of stress--and compared their white blood cell response to that of 25

parents with healthy children. The researchers treated the cells with

a synthetic hormone to mimic the process that would occur in the body.

All of the parents were in otherwise good health, according to the

report published in the November issue of the journal Health

Psychology.

The researchers found that the white blood cells of stressed parents

were less responsive to the hormone, and less likely to shut down an

inflammatory response, than the less stressed parents, said in

an interview with Reuters Health.

"Their cells kept producing more cytokines," he said.

The findings highlight the fact that "stress may interfere with the

body's ability to shut down its own immune response after it gets

started," said.

The good news, according to , is that stressed parents who

reported having a "good support system" were shown to have an immune

response similar to the relatively stress-free parents.

Parents who reported having a lot of support, such as having someone

to help with other family members, had similar responses as those who

reported no stress, explained.

SOURCE: Health Psychology 2002;21:531-541.

[Guest guest]

Sharon, thanks for the great aritcle.

hugs

Chronic Stress May Hinder Immune Response

Wed Nov 6, 6:18 PM ET

By Mulvihill

NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - A study of parents with children being

treated for cancer suggests that chronic stress may hamper a naturally

occurring anti-inflammatory response in the body.

Many previous studies have implicated stress as playing a role in a

plethora of ills including upper respiratory infections, progression of

heart disease and autoimmune diseases, according to Dr.

E. of Washington University in St. Louis, Missouri, and

colleagues.

To further understand the relationship between stress and the immune

system, and colleagues studied the effects of stress hormones

on white blood cells used by the body to fight infection.

Ordinarily, white blood cells will concentrate in the area of injury or

infection where they release chemicals called cytokines to fend off

the invaders--a process generally known as inflammation. While

inflammation can help fight infection, too much can actually be

damaging. The process is naturally stopped in the body when levels

of a stress hormone, cortisol, begin to rise.

In the current study, 's team took blood samples from 25 parents

who had children with cancer--and presumably were undergoing a lot

of stress--and compared their white blood cell response to that of 25

parents with healthy children. The researchers treated the cells with

a synthetic hormone to mimic the process that would occur in the body.

All of the parents were in otherwise good health, according to the

report published in the November issue of the journal Health

Psychology.

The researchers found that the white blood cells of stressed parents

were less responsive to the hormone, and less likely to shut down an

inflammatory response, than the less stressed parents, said in

an interview with Reuters Health.

"Their cells kept producing more cytokines," he said.

The findings highlight the fact that "stress may interfere with the

body's ability to shut down its own immune response after it gets

started," said.

The good news, according to , is that stressed parents who

reported having a "good support system" were shown to have an immune

response similar to the relatively stress-free parents.

Parents who reported having a lot of support, such as having someone

to help with other family members, had similar responses as those who

reported no stress, explained.

SOURCE: Health Psychology 2002;21:531-541.