Physical activity and stress resistance: sympathetic nervous system adaptations prevent stress-induced immunosuppression

Exerc Sport Sci Rev. 2005 Jul;33(3):120-6. doi: 10.1097/00003677-200507000-00004.

Abstract

A physically active lifestyle incurs many health benefits. One recently recognized benefit of regular moderate exercise is stress reduction. The current review develops the hypothesis that physical activity may prevent stress-induced suppression of the immune system and suggests an immunophysiological mechanism (sympathetic nervous system constraint) for this effect.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Adaptation, Physiological / immunology*
  • Animals
  • Disease Models, Animal
  • Exercise / physiology
  • Hemocyanins / immunology
  • Humans
  • Immune Tolerance / immunology*
  • Immunoglobulin alpha-Chains / immunology
  • Life Style
  • Motor Activity / immunology*
  • Physical Conditioning, Animal / physiology
  • Rats
  • Rats, Sprague-Dawley
  • Stress, Physiological / immunology*
  • Sympathetic Nervous System / immunology*

Substances

  • Immunoglobulin alpha-Chains
  • Hemocyanins
  • keyhole-limpet hemocyanin