Stress; when a good thing goes bad | Dr Natalie Riddell | TEDxGuildford

Summary

Stress is more than an emotion; it affects our immune system, potentially leading to illness. Dr. Natalie Riddell explains how stress hormones, adrenaline and cortisol, can alter immune cell behavior and disrupt circadian rhythms, impacting health. Chronic stress can exhaust the immune system, increasing susceptibility to diseases and possibly accelerating aging. Social support and stress management techniques are crucial for maintaining immune health and overall well-being.

Takeaways

• 🧬 Stress has a direct impact on our immune system, influencing our response to infections and cancers.
• 🌡️ During stress, hormones like adrenaline and cortisol are released, which can alter the number and function of immune cells in our body.
• 🌙 These hormones follow a circadian rhythm, helping with immune activation during the day and tissue repair at night.
• 🔄 Chronic stress can disrupt this rhythm, potentially leading to health issues.
• 📊 The Holmes and Rahe stress scale demonstrated a correlation between life stressors and the likelihood of illness.
• 🏥 In 2006, stress was identified as the second most common cause of ill health in the UK, leading to significant workdays lost.
• 🧠 Our 'stone-age brain' might not be well-adapted to cope with modern stressors, leading to a less effective stress response.
• 🛡️ Acute stress can temporarily boost the immune system by increasing the number of immune cells, which is beneficial for short-term survival.
• 🔄 Chronic stress, however, can lead to a loss of immune balance, increasing susceptibility to infections, cancers, and inflammatory conditions.
• 🤝 Social support and interventions can improve immune function and overall well-being, suggesting the importance of community and mental health resources.
• 🧘‍♂️ Mindfulness and emotional intelligence training can help manage stress and enhance cognitive function and well-being.

Q & A

What is the main focus of Natalie Riddell's research?

Natalie Riddell's research focuses on how stress can affect the immune system, particularly how it changes the way we respond to infections and cancers.

What are the two hormones released during stress and how do they impact the immune system?

During stress, the hormones adrenaline and cortisol are released. They can directly act upon the immune system, impacting its function by changing the number of cells in our blood and organs and altering how these cells respond and recognize infections and cancers.

How do the levels of adrenaline and cortisol change throughout the day?

The levels of adrenaline and cortisol change throughout the day due to their circadian rhythm, which promotes immune activation during the day for protection and supports tissue repair and regeneration overnight when we are at rest.

What is one consequence of stress on the circadian rhythm of hormones?

One consequence of stress is that it can alter the circadian rhythm of hormones, which can then impact health by disrupting the natural cycle of immune system activation and tissue repair.

What is the Holmes and Rahe stress scale, and how does it relate to health outcomes?

The Holmes and Rahe stress scale, developed in the 1970s, assigns a stress score to various life events and tallies these to predict the likelihood of illness. It demonstrates an association between stress and health outcomes.

How does stress affect society according to the Health and Safety Executive's findings?

According to the Health and Safety Executive, stress was the second most commonly reported reason for ill health in 2006, leading to 45% of all workdays lost due to ill health, equating to 11.7 million sick days.

What is the evolutionary psychologist's theory regarding the human brain's adaptation to stress?

The theory suggests that humans have a 'stone-age brain,' meaning our brain hasn't adapted enough to modern-day stresses, potentially leading to a maladaptation of our stress response to contemporary life.

How did Richard S. Lazarus define stress in the 1960s?

Richard S. Lazarus defined stress as an association between appraisal and coping, where a stressful event leads to an assessment of our ability and resources to deal with it. If we believe we cannot cope, we become stressed.

What is the role of the sympathetic nervous system during stress?

The sympathetic nervous system is activated during stress, leading to a fight or flight response. It innervates many organs, including those of the immune system, and stimulates the adrenal glands to release adrenaline and cortisol.

How does acute psychological stress affect the immune system?

Acute psychological stress can boost the immune system by increasing the number of immune cells in the peripheral blood, promoting protection against infections and potentially enhancing survival.

What are the three stages of the general adaptation syndrome described by Hans Selye?

The three stages of the general adaptation syndrome are: 1) the stress response with a fight or flight reaction, 2) a state of adaptation where the body builds resistance to stress, and 3) exhaustion of the system leading to illness if stress becomes chronic.

How does chronic stress affect the immune system and potentially lead to premature aging?

Chronic stress disrupts the balance of the immune system, leading to decreased immune protection and increased inflammation. This can result in the premature aging of the immune system and an increased incidence of infections, malignancies, and inflammatory conditions.

What are some strategies mentioned to combat the negative effects of stress?

Strategies to combat stress include increasing social engagement, providing support networks, engaging in mind-body therapies, teaching mindfulness, and improving emotional intelligence. These can help improve immune function and overall wellbeing.