Why do people get ill when stressed?
researchers atributed the greater vulnerability to disease to stress-triggered changes in the immune system. Stress can make one sick because the hormones and nerve pathways that are activated by stress change the way the immune system responds, making it less able to fight invaders. The culprit seems to be prolonged stress periods of stress, rather than intense stress experianced over shorter periods of time. It’s like back in the days, when we are threatened by something, ie a preditor chasing you, your hormones are changed to make you flee. The stress goes away after the threat goes away, but if you are constantly stressed your hormones never get chance to recover and relax.
