Introduction
 Have you ever noticed you’re more likely to get sick during stressful times? You might feel that way because there is a proven scientific connection. Chronic stress is the prolonged period of feeling overwhelmed or pressured. It has many negative effects on your mental and physical health and can lead to serious illnesses. It is impacting the lives of over 86 million people only in the US.

What is Chronic Stress?
 The formal definition of chronic stress is as follows: a prolonged, often overwhelming feeling of stress that can negatively impact a person's daily life. Chronic stress can occur when people are overwhelmed with a series of stressors in their everyday lives.Stressors →Chronic stress differs from acute stress because…
 Acute stress is stress that occurs because of immediate stressors or challenging situations and results in temporary physiological changes. Transversely, chronic stress occurs when the stressor exists over a prolonged period of time, leading to a buildup of extended physiological changes.

The Immune System
 The immune system is a complex series of organs, proteins, and cells. The overall function of the immune system is to prevent infection and to defend the body's own cells. Our body recognizes danger through signals that involve pathogen-receiving molecules called PAMPs and DAMPs (pathogen/danger-associated molecular patterns).

Chronic Stress and Your Immune System
 Chronic stress triggers cortisol, the body’s primary stress hormone. In short bursts, cortisol helps boost your immunity by preventing inflammation. While cortisol may be beneficial in most situations, its extended effect in the body can result in:

• Reducing the production of white blood cells (which are necessary for an immune response).
• Inhibiting inflammation (which is a key step in fighting infections).

This means that chronic stress results in increased inflammation, which increases the risk of autoimmune functions. This imbalance in the body, mixed with unhealthy amounts of cortisol, can cause the body to fight its own healthy tissues. This also results in the body being more susceptible to disease and illness and further weakens the body’s ability to fend off diseases or even recover quickly from injuries.

Signs Your Immune System Could Be Experiencing Chronic Stress
 Common indicators include:

• Frequent illnesses (e.g., colds, flu)
• Slow wound healing
• Chronic fatigue
• Digestive issues (e.g., bloating, diarrhea, constipation)
• Recurring infections
• Allergies or autoimmune flare-ups
• Skin problems (e.g., eczema, acne, psoriasis)
• Inflammation and joint pain
• Poor response to vaccines
• Mood changes (e.g., anxiety, depression, irritability)