How Stress Works and What It Does to Your Immune System

How Stress Works and What It Does to Your Immune System

Stress: it's something no one can escape, and it's something that seems to grow exponentially as you get older. Stress was designed as a "fight or flight" mechanism stemming from our caveman days when you had to outrun a saber tooth tiger or a mammoth.

When you are under stress, your body releases hormones like glucocorticoids and cortisol to quicken your heart rate and respiration to transfer extra energy to your muscles. Hence, you are ready to "fight or flight." But what happens if your body is constantly being put in a stressful state? What are the impacts on your overall health? Prolonged stress can significantly impact your immune system over time.

When you're stressed, a part of your brain called the amygdala interprets the stressful situation and signals to the hypothalamus. The hypothalamus is critical for your body's functions and controls both the sympathetic nervous system and the parasympathetic nervous system. Think of the sympathetic nervous system as a "gas-pedal," allowing your body to get the extra energy needed for the "fight or flight" response. This "gas-pedal" consists of adrenaline getting distributed throughout your body. This causes your heart to beat faster, and in turn, brings more blood to your muscles, heart, and other vital organs. Adrenaline also reduces your digestion and increases your blood pressure. The parasympathetic nervous system is the ever so important "brake "that brings your body back from that heightened state so that it can resume its normal functions that were inhibited when the sympathetic nervous system had taken over.

However, when you are in an almost constant state of stress, your "gas pedal" stays on, and this can cause damage to your immune system. Researchers have found that chronic stressors can negatively affect the immune system affecting both natural and specific immunity. Furthermore, it is believed that when the immune system is faced with stress over long periods, certain diseases can be stress-induced. It has even been found that mild depression can subdue the immune systems in the elderly. In one study, participants in their early 70s were under long-term stress due to caring for someone with Alzheimer's disease. The stress of being a caretaker had taken its immediate toll on their immune system, and their immune response was still down 18 months later, and their immunity also declined more with age.

So, what does all this mean for you? It means it's essential for you to make sure your immune system is functioning well at all times. Without a well-functioning immune system, when stressors enter your life, you have a higher likelihood of having more significant adverse effects. This is why at Orenda, we believe in making sure you support your immune system's natural and normal functions. We created an immune support supplement, Orenda Immune® to do just that! Orenda Immune® is a product ahead of its time, perfectly positioned for consumers looking to support their bodies natural defenses and for detoxification from the inside out.* Orenda Immune® is the first and only product of its kind to address immunity at the cellular level, and the effects of this are profound. There are three main ingredients in Orenda Immune® that will help support the natural and normal functions of your immune system:

Beta 1, 3 Glucans

Connect directly with circulating immune cell receptors to promote activity.*

Calcium d-Glucarate

Supports cellular detoxification, also known as Glucuronidation - targeting Xenoestrogens and other hormone disruptors with estrogen-blocking effects.*

Muramyl Peptides

Helps support the activation of macrophages and other cells of the immune system.*

We are all under a constant barrage of stressful situations in our lives, and worrying about whether our immune system is functioning properly shouldn't be on that list. When you choose Orenda Immune®, you can rest assured that you are supporting the normal and natural functions of your immune system.*

*These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.

Use only as directed. Consult your healthcare provider before using supplements or providing supplements to children under the age of 18. The information provided herein is intended for your general knowledge only and is not intended to be, nor is it, medical advice or a substitute for medical advice. If you have or suspect you have, a specific medical condition or disease, please consult your healthcare provider.

References:

Kiecolt-Glaser, J. K., & Glaser, R. (2002). Depression and immune function: Central pathways to morbidity and mortality. Journal of Psychosomatic Research, 53, 873-876.

Segerstrom, S. C. and Miller, G. E. (2004). Psychological Stress and the Human Immune System: A Meta-Analytic Study of 30 Years of Inquiry. Psychological Bulletin, Vol. 130, No. 4.