How Stress Weakens the Immune System and Accelerates Cellular Ageing.

Conscious stress management and a healthy lifestyle are crucial to reducing long-term health risks. Stress, Immune System, and the Development of Chronic Diseases. Many of today’s physical reactions to stress, such as the release of cortisol and norepinephrine, are survival mechanisms from the past, when humans were regularly exposed to dangerous situations and had to react quickly. These acute stress responses served to protect and defend against immediate threats.

Our genetic adaptation is still shaped by our lifestyle as hunters and gatherers. However, in our modern world, it is often out of place, as many stressors act persistently and cannot be eliminated immediately. The focus is on the gut-brain axis and the intestinal permeability caused by stress, Leaky gut" is well-known. This increased permeability weakens the immune system, leading to chronic inflammatory processes and the development of autoimmune and metabolic diseases such as type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular diseases.

Many of the so-called modern complaints, such as obesity, depression, and fatigue syndromes, are long-term effects of chronic stress. Human genes adapt only very slowly, and the significance of epigenetic changes that occur due to environmental conditions. These changes can be triggered by modern lifestyles and permanently affect gene expression.

It is therefore imperative to maintain a healthy lifestyle, meaning: a high level of physical activity, regular rest periods, and a balanced diet can help minimise the negative impact of chronic stress on the immune system and avoid long-term health consequences.