Stressor-induced alteration of health across the life span: There's more to it than immunology

Psychoneuroimmunology has made significant contributions to validating that the mind-body-health connection involves stressor-induced hormonal alteration of the immune system. Simultaneously with alterations of the immune system, the hormonal response to stress also affects other physiological processes that alter both mental and physical health. This review will describe some stressor-induced immune alterations and other health alterations that are induced by the response of the brain to stress. It should become apparent that the response to stress affects the human body as a system where there is an alteration of independent components that determine the health and well-being of the whole.