effect of chronic stress on the immune system
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Stress is an every day factor that everyone undergoes. However, chronic stress is lifetime and usually can be seen in those that are taking care of loved ones. Chronic stress is believed to affect the immune system in several ways. It is believed to produce increase amount of harmful substances in the body and decrease the amount of hormones that turn them off. It also decreases production of antibodies, T-cells and other helpful immune responses. Antibodies and killer t cells kill infections by making them burst.
Stress is believed to increase amount of interleukin-6 (IL-6). Interleukin-6 is a chemical that is associated with elderly diseases such as heart disease, diabetes, osteoporosis, frailty and some cancers (Kiecolt-Glaser, 2003). There are high levels probably because stress also lowers the sensitivity of glucocorticoid which is a hormone that turns off interleukin-6, interleukin-1B and tumor necrosis factor (Miller, 2002).
Researchers tested elderly adults from the age of 55 to 89 that had to care for their spouses for an average of 10 hours a day and those that didn't have to care for spouses...