Why does the immune reponse shut down in response to stress and stressors?

Running Head : Immune Response

Why does the immune response shut down in response to stress and stressors

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The immune system plays an important role in fighting off the negative things that may affect our body . It is basically a complex set up of tissues and cells that act as soldiers to foreign organisms such as viruses and bacteria . The most famous mechanism used by the immune system is called antibodies . Antibodies are molecules that kill foreign organisms . And like any other cases , a special

antibody is produced to fight each foreign organism

Like any other system , the immune system has its own waterloo . It cannot take care of the body all the time and at instances , it shuts down . Such is the case when it reacts to stress and stressors . So why does this happen ? The brain is mainly to be blamed - or maybe both of them

It has been mentioned that the immune system produces antibodies that kills the bacteria or virus present . To be able to do this , immune molecules have to send signals to the brain . However , these immune signals change the way the brain functions . This results in different behaviors that a person may experience . This is called sickness behavior - which is basically losing appetite for almost everything . It turns out that the signaling molecules from the immune system activate the hypothalamus which controls the stress response . Through a surge of hormones from the pituitary and adrenal glands and with the help of the hypothalamus , the hormone cortisol rises . The cortisol is the major steroid hormone that helps us get through stressful situations . It was discovered just recently that the brain uses cortisol to hold back the immune system from doing its job . Thus it resulted to the shutting down of the immune system and toning down of inflammation within the body (Adams , 2004 ,

. 23 . Scientists say that there two kinds of stresses good stress and bad stress . It is important to keep our body in good balance to help them do their supposed functions properly . Aside from that , dealing with stress takes a lot of control . So if something is bothering you that much , breathe and think twice for you might be risking your life for crying too much over spilled milk

References

Adams , C (2004 . Immuning the Immune System . Cambridge : New Life Publishing

Nua , S (2001 . The Human Immune System . Oxford : BIOS Scientific Publishers

Sinauer , J (2000 . Developmental Biology 6th ed . Massachusettes Sunderland Press

Shwartz , R (2003 ) Immune Receptors . Oxford : BIOS Scientific Publishers .Zimmer , W (2005 . Immune System Functions . New York : Misit Press...