Final answer:
Stress can either suppress or enhance the immune system, with short-term stress typically bolstering innate immune responses and chronic stress potentially leading to immune suppression. The field of psychoneuroimmunology studies these interactions.
Step-by-step explanation:
How Stress Affects the Immune System
The immune system's function can be significantly affected by stress. The field of psychoneuroimmunology explores the complex interactions among the immune, nervous, and endocrine systems. Stress initiates a cascade of hormonal and neuroendocrine responses that can lead to a suppression or enhancement of immune function depending on the duration and intensity of the stressor.
During short-term acute stress, there is a shift in the body's resources to prioritize innate immune responses. This is advantageous as it prepares the body to handle immediate threats, such as infections following an injury. However, when stress is chronic, it can detrimentally suppress both innate and adaptive immune responses. Hormones like cortisol play a key role in this immune modulation, having anti-inflammatory effects that, while beneficial in acute situations, can lead to increased susceptibility to infections if chronically elevated.
Stress can therefore have varying impacts on the immune system; whereas short-term stress may enhance certain aspects of the immune response, chronic stress often leads to immune suppression. This is particularly concerning in individuals with already compromised immune systems, such as the elderly or those undergoing immunosuppressive therapy.