Effect of stress on immune function, allergy, and health

There is no longer a question regarding whether the immune system functions as an independent system that regulates itself. It does not. The function of the immune system is modulated by hormones released from nerves, the pituitary, the adrenals, and possibly even lymphocytes themselves. Many of the immune regulatory hormones change in concentration at times of different emotional states. Thus, the response to a stressor, which increases the concentration of hormones such as glucocorticoids and catecholamines, modulates immune function. This brief review highlights some of the important areas of clinical interest in the interaction between stress and immune function.