Which statement best describes the relationship between stress and the immune system, as discussed?

• A. Chronic stress upregulates immune function, while acute stress suppresses it
• B. Chronic stress suppresses immune function, while acute stress can activate it
• C. Both chronic and acute stress activate the immune system
• D. Both chronic and acute stress suppress the immune system

Answer: (B)

Stress affects the immune system differently depending on how long it lasts. Short, acute stress tends to mobilize the body's defenses and can transiently boost certain immune functions, preparing the body to respond to immediate threats. In contrast, chronic, long-lasting stress continuously exposes the body to stress hormones like cortisol, which over time dampen immune responses and can impair aspects like lymphocyte activity and antibody production. This duration-dependent pattern is why the best description is that chronic stress suppresses immune function, while acute stress can activate it. The other ideas—that chronic stress increases immune activity, that both forms activate, or that both suppress—don’t fit this established pattern.