U09 Psych 100 Chapter Notes - Chapter 11.3: Cortisol, Sympathetic Nervous System, Natural Killer Cell
1 Jan 2017
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Immune system - the body"s mechanism for dealing with invading microorganisms, such as allergens, bacteria, and viruses: stress interferes with this process. Made up of 3 types of lymphocytes - specialized white blood cells that make up the immune system: b cells produce antibodies attach themselves to foreign agents and mark them for destruction. The reason you have lifelong immunity to some diseases: t cells attack the intruders directly, increasing the strength of the immune response, natural killer cells kill viruses, and help attack tumors. Brief stressors decrease the ability of white blood cells, and natural killer cells to fight off infection: body heals more slowly when people are stressed than when not stressed. The detrimental effects of long-term stress on physical health are due partly to decreased lymphocyte production. Immune systems of those who tend to be particularly anxious or have many daily hassles tend to be especially vulnerable.
