COVID-19: Stress-Induced Immune Dysregulation Is Real
Hello again everyone:
Stress, especially chronic activation of the stress response system, has been shown to cause immune dysregulation and dysfunction to the point that it can suppress the wings of the immune system that fight off infections, and at the same time make things like allergies and autoimmune conditions worse.
Abstract : The communication between the central nervous system and the immune system occurs via a complex network of bidirectional signals linking the nervous, endocrine and immune systems. The field of psychoneuroimmunology (PNI) has provided new insights to help understand the pathophysiological processes that are linked to the immune system. Work in this field has established that psychological stress disrupts the functional interaction between the nervous and immune systems. Stress-induced immune dysregulation has been shown to be significant enough to result in health consequences, including reducing the immune response to vaccines, slowing wound healing, reactivating latent herpes- viruses, such as Epstein–Barr virus (EBV), and enhancing the risk for more severe infectious disease. Chronic stress/ depression can increase the peripheral production of proinflammatory cytokines, such as interleukin (IL)-6. High serum levels of IL-6 have been linked to risks for several conditions, such as cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, mental health complications, and some cancers. This overview will discuss the evidence that psychological stress promotes immune dysfunction that negatively impacts human health.
Bottom Line:
Consider making sure that you are optimally reducing and mitigating the stressors in your life. While I could easily write another 30 articles on this, here are some fundamentally effective ways that you can reduce your stress response by:
- Deep breathing exercises
- Exercising, and this includes just getting out for a walk regularly, get outside more
- Adequate, restful sleep
- Meditation
- Prayer
- Journaling
- Playing a musical instrument
- Apps, like CALM can be really effective
- Yoga is particularly wonderful
- Clean out your closets, both physical and mental/emotional closets, unburden yourself.
- Mental health therapy
- Adaptogen herbs, especially Ashwagandha, lower the stress response significantly
- A very clean low-inflammatory diet
- Turn off the news and TV, and read something uplifting/that you love
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