University of California, Riverside:
School of Medicine
Future Physician Leaders
Group 12
Did You Know?
- The immune system travels throughout the body and defends us against foreign enemies known as antigens, bacteria, viruses, and even cancerous cells.
-Being overstressed reduces the immune system’s ability to work against antigens which makes us weaker and become easily sick.
What is Cortisol Suppressed Immunity?
- Cortisol Suppressed Immunity is when the immune system has been damaged because too much cortisol is being made. This type of natural hormone is commonly best-known as the “stress hormone”.
- The “stress hormone” is secreted by the adrenal glands, located above the kidneys The release of cortisol from the adrenal glands is the body’s response to either stress or fear, this is the body’s “fight or flight response”.
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What is the body's "flight or fight" response?
-The fight or flight will occur when one is scared, which can happen by being provoked mentally or physically.
-A common experience of “fight or flight” is when something frightening causes the heartbeat to quicken, breathing becomes heavier and even the body has been triggered to take action.
How CSI Works.
Now think about a bank. So as many know, robbers steal from banks, correct. When they steal from the bank they are stealing from basically the customer, which is us. Just like how more bank robberies are bad for our money, too much cortisol is bad for your immune system. Too much cortisol makes your immune system weaker, which means you’re more likely to get sick. This condition is called cortisol suppressed immunity.
