10 Symptoms of Stress
Symptom #2: Decreased Immune System
The main types of immune cells are white blood cells, also called lymphocytes. When a person is stressed, their Cortisol levels increase, suppressing the effectiveness of the immune system, lowering the number of lymphocytes in the body. This inhibits the body’s ability to fight off antigens, making us more susceptible to infections.
Stress can also have an indirect effect on the immune system. When people are stressed, they are more likely to eat unhealthy foods, smoke or drink. These behavioral coping strategies may temporarily reduce symptoms of stress, but may also end up triggering an immune response.
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