Final answer:
The correct answer is a) Stressors. Stress affects immune system health, with chronic stress potentially leading to immunosuppression, while short-term stress may boost innate immune responses.
Step-by-step explanation:
All types of stressors (emotional, nutritional, physical) increase production of immunosuppressive corticosteroids. The correct answer to the student's question is a) Stressors.
Chronic stress is known to inhibit immune responses even in otherwise healthy adults, whereas short-term stress can enhance innate immune responses. Over time, repeated activation of the stress response, which involves the release of hormones like cortisol by the adrenal glands, can lead to negative effects on health, including immunosuppression. This interaction between stress and immune health is a focus of the field of psychoneuroimmunology.
It is now understood that not all stress has the same effect on the immune system. While most short-term stress may not impair the immune system significantly enough to increase disease incidence in healthy individuals, chronic stress can weaken the immune system and lead to increased susceptibility to illnesses.