Health Mastery – Health Retreats – Destress & Detox
At Health Mastery Retreats we take “Destress and Detox” therapies as seriously as crucial treatments. You can research all the “Destress and Detox” treatments we provide simply by clicking on the links to the left.
How does stress affect the immune system? Stress produces an adrenaline rush in the fight or flight response. Chronic, prolonged stress suppresses our immunity and makes us vulnerable to illness and disease.
The Fight or Flight Response - How does stress affect the immune system?
It all starts with your body’s reaction to a frightening or stressful situation. Something triggers your brain to think that you are in danger. This is called the fight or flight response. Your body get you ready to run or fight.Years ago, if you were a cave man, it might have been a ferocious animal chasing you. Today, it might be your wife nagging you to get something done, or the boss at work reminding you that you need to meet a deadline. It really doesn’t matter if you are in physical danger or if the stressor is mental or emotional. Your body reacts in the same way. It gives you an adrenaline rush and raises your cortisol levels. And, if you truly are in danger, these two chemicals help you in these ways:
You get a burst of energy. Non-essential body functions are shut down. Digestion is slowed, and your immune system is weakened. Heart rate is increased. Adrenaline helps pump blood to your major muscles, so that you can run or fight. Immune system function is slowed, as it is unnecessary during fight or flight. Lower sensitivity to pain. Because your body senses an emergency, you are less sensitive, temporarily, to pain. This is all great–if you have a REAL physical emergency, and you need to react quickly and effectively.
Chronic Stress and Immune System Function
However, what happens when stress is chronic and prolonged? How does stress affect the immune system then? You end up with a weakened or compromised immune system, and you can end up with one of many immune system disorders.
