Impacto del estrés en la salud: ¿por qué bajan las defensas según la ciencia?
En el vertiginoso ritmo de la vida contemporánea, la ciencia ha comenzado a desentrañar una conexión que hasta hace décadas parecía subjetiva: el vínculo entre la mente y el cuerpo.
TL;DR
- Chronic stress is a biological factor that alters the body's ability to defend against pathogens.
- Prolonged activation of the HPA axis releases cortisol, a hormone that has immunosuppressive effects.
- Chronic stress reduces cytokine production and lymphocyte proliferation, weakening immune response.
- High emotional pressure can result in slower wound healing and increased susceptibility to respiratory infections.
- Long-term stress can accelerate cellular aging by shortening telomeres.
- Mindfulness and regular physical exercise can improve immune system regulation by reducing stress hormones.
- Restorative sleep and antioxidant-rich nutrition are crucial for restoring immune mechanisms.