Stress (physiology)
Stress is a pathological process resulting from the reaction of the body to external forces and abnormal conditions that tend to disturb the organism's homeostasis.[1] "The body" is not limited to that of humans; all living organisms have stressors and stress responses/
Stress and the immune system
The major hormones that are produced during stress are the adrenal glands' secretion of catecholamines, glucocorticoids and DHEA. The major glucocorticoid, cortisol (a prednisone-like anti-inflammatory steroid) reduces the immune response. In fact, "catecholamines and cortisol can both be immunosuppressive if chronically elevated... In contrast, DHEA is a precursor to sex hormones and is immune enhancing. In vitro studies have shown that cortisol suppresses neutrophil function, and this can be overcome by coincubation with DHEA sulfate."[2]