In fact, through the endocrine and neurological responses, the stress response is decisive in the immune mechanisms, in the resistance to pathologies, in allergic and autoimmunity phenomena, in premature aging, in intellectual abilities as well as in the postural structure of the individual.
From all this it is evident that the implications of stress are such and so many that it does not allow the making of a complete list of pathologies in which stress plays a decisive role. Selye himself, in one of his latest writings, commented: "Stress is a scientific concept that has had the good fortune of becoming too well known, but also the misfortune of being poorly understood."
The question is therefore of great importance judging by how this phenomenon, stress, characterizes our times and by the number of times in which, often inappropriately, it is evoked by people. As we've already stated, stress isn't necessarily bad, it's about keeping it at levels that are healthy and stimulating. "Stress is the spice of life" Selye said, but people involved in the five phases of chronic distress risk their health as in a dangerous game of chance. The human organism, by its nature, always tries to stay or return. in his normal state of health. Once the pathological threshold has been crossed, however, it is necessary, as soon as possible, to undertake a specialist rehabilitation program, to restore normal psychophysical conditions. In such conditions, in fact, it is often no longer sufficient to eliminate, when possible, the "stressors" and bad daily habits (smoking, sedentary lifestyle, etc.); appropriate external support is needed.
Psychological support, proper diet, correct physical activity and relaxation techniques are the most effective tools available to remedy a chronic stressful situation.
Today it is possible to obtain indices related to the degree of stress of each individual, as well as through specific psychological tests, through some tests including electrocardiogram, dosage of the hormone cortisol, dosage of cytokines.
These three parameters allow to evaluate the individual response to stress and to determine an overall risk profile of the subject. Equally important, however, is the professional's ability to assess the situation. Furthermore, in the management of stress it is necessary to consider some important critical factors such as the effects on the immune system and cell life.
, lymphocytopenia and a condition of reduced resistance to infectious agents. Over the next few years, these early insights were largely confirmed. It was in fact possible to observe, through the use of sophisticated laboratory investigation methods, how exposure to the most varied types of stressful agents is capable of constantly producing significant alterations in immune function.The most commonly observed effect in stressed animals is the appearance of a state of immunosuppression, both of the cellular component (reduction or suppression of T lymphocyte reactivity, reduction of T cell recirculation, reduction of lymphocyte cytotoxic activity, reduction intensity of delayed hypersensitivity reactions, etc.) and humoral reactions (decrease and delay in the synthesis of antibodies against specific antigens, decrease in B lymphocyte functionality and immediate hypersensitivity reactions). These surveys, conducted on animals, have subsequently found ample confirmation also in experiments on humans. In this regard, the data reported in studies in which it was evaluated as the emotional stress produced by serious loss events (for example , death of spouse) seems to be associated with suppression of the immune reactivity of T and B lymphocytes to mitogens (substances that stimulate cell mitosis and lymphocyte transformation), which lasts a long time, with a restoration of normal functional balances only after many months.
