The Immune System, Stress and Cancer
Stress is a natural part of life; it is the body’s way of telling us that something is wrong. For example, when you wake up in the morning, and there is a cold sore on your nose or a headache, the body tells you that it needs to fight off the cold sore and give you an alarm.
Symptoms like dry throat, runny eyes and muscle pain often accompanied this struggle.
Over time, prolonged or chronic stress can weaken the immune system and can destroy the immune system. Other symptoms may include loss of appetite, fatigue, weight gain, and difficulty sleeping.
So, one theory is that stress can weaken a person’s immune system and can actually cause cancer to occur.
Another theory is that the stress can alter the body’s immune system, so it does not respond as it should to the cause of the stress. When a person is under pressure, the body has increased levels of cortisol, a hormone produced by the adrenal glands, which may stimulate cancer cells.
There is no specific cause to a combination of stress and cancer, but research shows that different triggers may be responsible for each condition.
Until we find a definitive answer, many doctors and researchers will continue to study the relationship between stress and cancer.
For instance, when the body’s ability to fight off ailments like the cold sore and headaches diminishes, the body can become more susceptible to disease and infections. Hence, it is essential to avoid chronic stress.
The best way to avoid becoming a victim of this weakened defence is to try to limit your exposure to an environmental stressor. If possible, limit your contact with aggressive people or those with a demanding life and see a therapist or seek medical treatment if you need help.