Article Categories
» Arts & Entertainment
» Automotive
» Business
» Careers & Jobs
» Education & Reference
» Finance
» Food & Drink
» Health & Fitness
» Home & Family
» Internet & Online Businesses
» Miscellaneous
» Self Improvement
» Shopping
» Society & News
» Sports & Recreation
» Technology
» Travel & Leisure
» Writing & Speaking

  Listed Article

  Category: Articles » Health & Fitness » Article
 

Stress, immune system and age




By N Singh

Role of stress and ageing on the immune system.
As ageing is associated with immunological changes, the effects of stress and age are interlinked where a deregulation of the immune function can have a significant impact on physical health. On the other hand stess can both enhance and increase the effects of aging, with older adults often showing greater immunological impairment to stress than younger adults. Therefore a good immune response is essential to our good health. In the same way immunological alterations and disturbances can influence the progression and severity of a variety of disorders and diseases, including stress related disorders.

Also stressful experiences very early in life can alter the responsiveness of the nervous system and immune system. It is possible that prenatal or early life stress may increase the likelihood of altered immune responses to stress in late life. One such alteration to the immune system includes a decrease in the ability of white blood cells (immune cells) to carry out their key functions. One great example is temporary stress as seen in students during "examination stress". This has been seen to slow down wound healing. Children of mothers who are routinely stressed during their pregnancy show decrease in immune function compared to children of undisturbed pregnancies. Similarly young children who experience abuse or neglect show abnormal cortisol levels indicative of a dysregulated stress response. Cortisol is a hormone secreted by the adrenal glands and involved in glucose metabolism, blood pressure regulation, maintenance of insulin release, suppression of inflammatory responses. Cortisol is elevated following several stress disorders. Several stressful experiences can cause in areas of the brain involved in memory an "imprinting" during fetal development and early life can alter the responsiveness of the endocrine, immune, and central nervous systems for many years. An understanding of such interlinked effects of stress and age is important to understand and to determine the mechanisms involved, so that we can develop effective interventions in early and late life.

 
 
About the Author
N. Singh, PhD. is the editor of http://www.eStressHelp.com.
Please feel free to use this article with proper referencing and outgoing link.

Article Source: http://www.simplysearch4it.com/article/30304.html
 
If you wish to add the above article to your website or newsletters then please include the "Article Source: http://www.simplysearch4it.com/article/30304.html" as shown above and make it hyperlinked.



  
  Recent Articles
Hypnosis – 5 WONDERFUL Steps to Quit Smoking Today for a HEALTHY Living
by pradeep aggarwal

The Importance of Foods to fight Cold Sores
by Robert H Black

The Benefits of Cleansing Your Body
by Dr. Robert Fleishmann

The Risk Of Drug-coated Stents Can Be Managed
by Ng Peng Hock

What So Great About GL Diet?
by Ng Peng Hock

Does Salt Matter Your Heart Health?
by Ng Peng Hock

3 Smart Ways to Live Longer
by David Daniel

What Are Designer Eggs Related To Heart Disease?
by Ng Peng Hock

Nosebleeds - Bloody Nose - The simple facts and the cures
by Robert W. Benjamin

Your Great Goal in Life A Healthy and Fit YOU
by Ismael D. Tabije

Building Up Strong and Shapely Legs
by Ismael D. Tabije

Enhance Your Health through Internal Cleanliness
by Ismael D. Tabije

What If You Have A Fatty Liver?
by Ng Peng Hock

Hair extension pictures will show you the wonders of hair extension
by Anne foster

Exercises for Sagging Facial Muscles and Hollow Cheeks
by Ismael D. Tabije

Pushing the Limits of One's Life: Be Fit Up to 100 Years
by Ismael D. Tabije

Natural Cure and Treatment of Dyspepsia
by Ismael D. Tabije

Does Heart Grow Older With Age?
by Ng Peng Hock

Can't connect to database