Acute stress affects immunity positively and chronic stress negatively. There is a similar situation in the emotional situation. Emotional disorders (anxiety, depression, etc.) that have become chronic and illness negatively affect the immune stress.

Yes, it is true to a greater extent that stress and anger disturb our body system at microscopic level and reduce our immunity.

Steroids are released due to stress etc which supress immunity.

Dear members, Mahesh Kumar and Mubashir Ali Rather, thanks for your contribution.

Yes as they can chang expression of entire hormone levels

Acute stress affects immunity positively and chronic stress negatively. There is a similar situation in the emotional situation. Emotional disorders (anxiety, depression, etc.) that have become chronic and illness negatively affect the immune stress.

Stress and anger are natural feelings for humans in various circumstances. People instinctive reactions that work as unconditional reflex are often jeopardizing people immunity, and lead to harsh consequences. People ought to be learned / trained/ practiced to restrain their first reaction, and filter it through their conscience. It's difficult, but it's the only method to keep / enforce an immunity against stress and emotions.

Yes, stress can adversely affect our immune system.

https://www.avogel.co.uk/health/stress-anxiety-low-mood/stress/why-stress-is-the-enemy-of-your-immune-system/

https://www.apa.org/research/action/immune

Ravindra R Navthar

There is no reliable clinical evidence to support that normal, healthy emotions including anger and fear have any adverse effect on the immune system.

https://www.simmsmanncenter.ucla.edu/center_events/healing-and-the-mind-emotions-and-the-immune-system/

As per Ayurvedic science, causes for decrease in immunity of our body includes:

a. excessive physical exercise

b. fasting for long period

c. constant worry

d. Consumption of foods which are dry (moistureless) in nature

e. consuming very less quantity of food

f. excessive exposure to heavy blows of wind and sun's heat

g. fear

h. grief and sorrow

h. alcoholism

i. keeping awake at nights

j.· due to old age

k. mental and physical trauma or injury to vital parts

l. anger

m. excess indulgence to intercourse.

References:

1. Charak Samhita, with Charak Chandrika Hindi commentary, by Dr Brahmanand Tripathi and Dr Ganga Sahay Pandey, Sutra Sthana Chapter 17, Verse 76-77, Chaukhamba Surbharti Prakashan; 2007. p. 354.

2. Sushruta Samhita edited by Kaviraj Ambikadutta Shastri, Sutra Sthana, chapter 15, Verse No. 28. Chaukhamba Sanskrit Sansthan, Varanasi; 2007. p. 61.

3. Ashtanga Hridaya, with Vidyotini Hindi commentary of Kaviraj Atrideva Gupta, Sutra Sthana, Chapter 11, Verse No. 39, Chaukhambha Prakashan, Varanasi; 2009. p. 167. 4. (PDF) OJAS: THE VITAL NECTAR OF LIFE. Available from: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/269847545_OJAS_THE_VITAL_NECTAR_OF_LIFE [accessed Dec 15 2020].

Dear M.K. Tripathi,

Thanks for your contribution

Dear Serdar Kalemci,

Thanks for your clear explanation and contribution.

Dear Len Leonid Mizrah,

Thanks for your explanation on People instinctive reactions.

Dear Arvind Singh,

Thanks for your contribution and reference provided.

Dear Sinimol T Peethambaran,

I am thankful for your detailed explanation on causes for decrease in immunity of our body.

Light stress activates the functions of the immune system, but under strong stressful influences, its functions are suppressed, which, under chronic stress, makes us vulnerable to various diseases.

If rats are exposed to severe stress, for example, immobilization and hypothermia, the response of the immune system to the introduction of antigens decreases - less cells of the immune system and antibodies are formed.

The stress response is realized by the nervous and endocrine systems. In particular, there is a release of steroid hormones of the adrenal cortex, including cortisol. In small doses, steroid hormones can stimulate the functions of the immune system, and in large doses, they can depress. But experimental evidence suggests that physiological increases in steroid hormone levels alone do not lead to the suppression of immune function that occurs with stress.

with a weak stress effect, the reaction of lymphoid cells to a regulatory signal - the cytokine interleukin-1 - is enhanced (this is manifested by the activation of the proliferation process - multiplication of cells of the immune system). With strong combined stress, the response of cells to the action of interleukin-1 decreases sharply. Apparently, there is a violation of the ligand-receptor relationship, which is involved in the implementation of cytokine signaling into the cell.

Regards, Sergey

Yes, stree affected the immune system

Dear Pushkin Sergey Viktorovich,

I am thankful for your micro analysis and explanation on influence of stress on immunity.

https://www.healthline.com/health/psychoneuroimmunology

This new scientific field is relevant for your query.

I am in support of PNI.

Dear Stephen I. Ternyik,

I am thankful for your reference stating correct explanations.

Dear Gopal Shukla,

Thanks for your contribution

Stress can affects the size of stomach but emotions I think it positively affects our immunity.... unless it's not depression 🌹

Yes, because our mind is in every cell of our body !!!

Please take a look at these links:

Article Stress and the immune system

Chapter The Impact of Everyday Stressors on the Immune System and Health

Article Effect of stress on immunity

Article Stress, Emotion, and human immune function

Article Anxiety, Not Anger, Induces Inflammatory Activity: An Avoida...

Article Emotions and the Immune System

Article ANGER; ITS IMPACT ON HUMAN BODY

Dear Ravindra,

Individuals have different levels of vulnerability to stress which varies from time to time and among different individuals. This variation is caused by physiological and psychosocial differences between people. for example, the introverts’ nervous system is naturally prone to stimulation and the nervous system of extroverts is naturally inclined to inhibition. we should keep in mind that innate genetic differences can cause people to differ from each other in their Ascending Reticular Activating Systems (ARAS). The ARAS of the brain structure is responsible for brain arousal in response to an external stimulus. Introverted and low sensation seekers are characterized by ARAS sensitivity to low levels of stimulation and intolerance of high ARAS stimulation that acts to reduce external stimulus by low sensation seekers. Also, studies on hormonal activities such as cortisol show that this hormone is negatively correlated with high sensation seeking. In other words, the amount of these hormones in individuals with high sensation seeking is lower and the decrease in cortisol levels is a good explanation for determining why high sensation seekers suffer less from stress.

In conclusion, stress and emotions can affect the immune system, both through hormones and by increasing the sympathetic nervous system, and consequently by increasing heart rate and blood pressure, but factors such as personality traits (such as high/low sensation seeking or extraversion) can play a moderating role in the effect of stress and emotions on the immune system.

ref: (PDF) Effects of Emotional Images on Cardiovascular Responses in Males with Coronary Artery Disease and in Healthy Males: The Role of Sensation Seeking (researchgate.net)

Best Regards

They definitely do affect people. If stress and emotional distress reach to a peak level it can lead to mental illnesses. In addition, if individuals already suffer from a mental illness and on top of that their stress levels and emotional crisis are not in control it can cause something really serious or maybe a severe damage. Feeling stressed is totally normal, expressing your emotions is a human thing, but, we should try to get it under control. It’s definitely not easy and exhausting but we should try.

Different kinds of physical and mental pressure or any kind of failureness produce special type of hormone inside an individual which create stress. When a stressed individual is involved in emotions frustration is produced, which obviously reduce the immunity or willing power. Because different important organs of a frustrated human body can not work properly.

Stress, genetics and environmental pollution have a negative impact on humans.

Dear Ravindra R Navthar,

I strongly believe that mental stress affects immunity.

Emotion also has the same effect if imotions are painful.

Blood pressure, indigestion and hence different physiological problems are enhanced due to absence of mental peace.

Thanks and Regards

N Das

Stress may also awaken dormant cancer cells, causing cancer to recur.

https://www.nih.gov/news-events/nih-research-matters/stress-may-awaken-dormant-cancer-cells

Ravindra R Navthar

Dear Professor,

Thank you for this beautiful topic of discussion.

I come form the world of behavioral sciences and am trying to participate in this discussion from that standpoint. In behavioral sciences "immunity" is defined as a "collection of concentration, attentiveness, awareness". Stress and negative emotions definitely reduce concentration, attention and awareness. Therefore, the proposition hidden in the topic of this discussion holds truth.

Best regards,

Anamitra.

I totally agree...

I will say, yes.

Even from the reactions one can see intantaneously what haapens. Ofcourse cumulative effect wii be more effective either way.

Of course it does and, in addition, it is widely demonstrated with multiple evidences: By way of illustration (and if to be exhaustive) H. Selye already laid the foundations of the General Adaptation Syndrome -GAS- and how in its "Exhaustion phase" the The organism enters a serious Immune Depression Syndrome with vital compromise, in the same way Cortisol -true form of Stress- after the hypersecretion of ACTH acts as a serious immunosuppressant and, therefore, makes it easier for the subject to become infected by an infectious condition ( in addition to many other problems: Gastric, Sleep Disorders, Heart Disease ... especially if it joins the so-called Alpha Type Pattern of Behavior -PTAC-, Sexual dysfunctions, etc.)

It will for sure

I agree too.

I am thankful to all members for their valuable inputs on the topic.

My intention in this discussion was to correlate the effect of stress and emotions on our immunity in current covid pendamic situation.

It is true that stress and emotion affect our immune system

Please have a look at this article

Article Psychological Stress and the Human Immune System: A Meta-Ana...

Yes, stress and emotions affect the immune system, for example by altering hormone levels.

Yes, it is true... I have lived it...

Yes

definitely

Yes ,I agreed with this fact

Yes, without doubt. Very interesting question.

Yes, I think so according own experience.

Yes, they are capable of affecting human health

Yes stress and negative emotions such as anger, fear, loneliness, and melancholy can adversely affect the immune system

Yes, particularly chronic stress, leads to suppression of immune function, and the immune system may not be adapted over time. Also, negative emotions such as fear, sadness, disgust, and anger may negatively affect the immune system by change the way in which the immune response functions.

Yes, I agreed well with dr. Jassim Mohammed Alkalby.