Our immune system protects us from bacteria, viruses or foreign proteins. Chronic stress weakens this defense. What happens to our immune system when we are mentally unwell – and how we can strengthen it.
Constanze Loeffler
The psyche and immune system are closely linked via messenger substances and the intestinal microbiome, so that stress also affects the immune system. Experts distinguish between acute and ongoing exertion: jogging, sauna, an approaching deadline – short-term exertion boosts our immune system. But with chronic stress, the effect is reversed: the immune system is weakened.