Stress and Autoimmune Disease Flashcards
What is inflammation?
-body’s reaction to infection, irritation or other injuries
-part of the immune response
-allows for different components of the immune response to be brought to the comprised site
What are the 2 general types/classification of autoimmune disease?
-systemic autoimmune diseases [attack of self-cells]
-localized autoimmune diseases [attack in specific location of the body]
What are systemic autoimmune diseases?
-non-organ-specific or systemic autoimmune diseases are those that damage many organs
-ex: Rheumatoid arthritis (RA), Sjogren’s syndrome, Lupus Erythematosus, Scleroderma
What are localized autoimmune diseases?
-[organ-specific] those where only a single organ or tissue is directly damaged by the autoimmune process
-ex: Type 1 Diabetes, Hashimoto’s thyroiditis, Celiac disease, Crohn’s disease
What are the causes of autoimmune diseases?
-the cause is unknown, but it appears that there’s an inherited predisposition to develop autoimmune disease in many cases.
-in some autoimmune diseases, a bacteria or virus triggers an immune response, and the antibodies or T-cells attack normal cells because they have some part of their structure that resembles a part of the structure of the infecting microorganism.
What are the risk factors for developing an autoimmune disease?
-genetic factor
-environmental toxins
-gender
-heredity
-viruses
-drugs
-stress
-poor diet
-lack of exercise
-lack of sleep
-abuse of alcohol and use of tobacco
How does gender influence the development of autoimmune diseases?
-most autoimmune diseases are more common in females.
-but some like ankylosing spondylitis are more common in males, while others like Crohn’s disease affect males and females equally.
What are the common symptoms of autoimmune diseases?
-fatigue
-affect on weight
-muscle pain
-insomnia
-inflammation
[all autoimmune diseases involve flare-ups]
What are the 4 inflammatory disorders?
-Crohn’s disease
-Rheumatoid arthritis
-Multiple Sclerosis
-Systemic Lupus Erythematosus
What is Crohn’s Disease?
-inflammation of the gastro-intestinal tract
-genetic risk factor
-environmental risk factor
-affects 400,000 to 600,000 people in North America
[bloody stool during flare-up –> corticosteroids are a treatment option to suppress the inflammatory response (but they are very hard on the body)]
What is Rheumatoid arthritis?
-inflammation of synovial joints, often leads to destruction of articular cartilage
-some genetic risk factor
-about 1% of the world’s population
-man-woman ratio of 1:3
What is multiple sclerosis?
-inflammation leading to demyelination of axons in the brain and spinal cord
-results in physical and cognitive disabilities
-genetic variations and environmental risk factors
-infections as triggers
-affects 2 to 150 per 100,000 in the world
[probably the worst one]
What is Systemic Lupus Erythematosus?
-inflammation occurs almost anywhere in the body including hear, lungs and nervous system
-more common in non-European descent
-man-woman ratio of 1:9
-genetic and environmental risk factors
What are autoimmune diseases (AD), and who do they most commonly affect?
-AD are a group of 70–80 chronic inflammatory disorders where the immune system attacks the body’s own tissues.
-they are classified by the organ or system affected and impact 3–8% of the U.S. population
-about 80% of cases occur in women.
How might stress increase the risk of developing autoimmune diseases?
-stress can alter components of the immune system, increasing susceptibility to infections.
-if a virus triggers an autoimmune response, stress-related immune suppression may delay viral clearance, raising the chance the immune system mistakes virus-infected cells for the body’s own.
Why are AD considered inseparable from stress?
-because they both involve the HPA axis, which regulates stress responses and influences immune system activity. [Dysregulation of the HPA axis can contribute to immune imbalance and the development of autoimmune diseases.]
How is stress linked to exacerbations in Multiple Sclerosis (MS)?
-stress can suppress immune function, increasing susceptibility to viral infections.
-stress may trigger reactivation of latent viruses, leading to immune responses that worsen symptoms.
-respiratory infections often precede MS flare-ups, making stress a common factor in immune changes and disease exacerbation.
How does childhood stress relate to the development of autoimmune diseases later in life?
-more adverse childhood events → higher risk of autoimmune disease
-stronger association in individuals under 65
-long-term changes in immune function
-decreased glucocorticoid levels
-CNS and endocrine system dysregulation
-repeated stress activation during development
-early social stress amplifies effects of later infections (e.g., in rodent studies)
How is stress linked to symptom severity in Lupus Erythematosus?
-daily stress → increase in perceived lupus symptoms
-associated with prolactin increase
-major life stressors showed no association or even possible beneficial effects
-direction of effect unclear (stress may worsen symptoms, or symptoms may increase stress)
How does stress influence disease activity in rheumatoid arthritis?
-poor coping with stress → more disease flare-ups
-low social support → more stress and worsened symptoms
-strong link between stress vulnerability and disease activity over time
-symptoms decrease over time only in patients with good coping and support
How does personal mastery influence stress and flare-ups in individuals with arthritis?
-personal mastery buffers against stress-related flare-ups
-low control & high fatalism → higher overall stress and poor stress coping
-high control or low fatalism → less stress and fewer flare-ups
-stress and RA symptoms (pain, fatigue) can be both a cause and result of each other
How is stress related to disease functioning in individuals with Crohn’s disease?
-people with Crohn’s disease report more stress than healthy controls
-poorly functioning patients experience even higher stress levels
-poor functioning linked to: dysfunctional illness behavior; interpersonal difficulties; over-reliance on narcotics
-effective stress management may help reduce flare-ups
