Handbook Of Human Stress And Immunity

In 1964, George Solomon coined the term psychoneuroimmunology. In the intervening 30 years, this term has emerged into a dynamic field of study which investigates the unique interactions between the nervous, endocrine, and immune systems. The Handbook of Human Stress and Immunity is a comprehensive reference for this dynamic new field. Focusing on how stressors impact the central nervous system and the resulting changes in immune responses, the Handbook is the first to describehow stress specifically affects human immune systems. It discusses how stress generally makes people more susceptible to infection, how personal support systems can counteract the physiological effects of stress, and how stress, or lack of stress, affects the aging process. Chapters are authored by the leading names in the field and cover such diseases as autoimmune disease, viral pathogenesis, herpes, HIV, and AIDS.

Written by a renowned figure in the field of immunology and compiling a wealth of scientific information, Stress, Immune Function, and Health: The Connection looks at the long-term effects of stress on human health from a psychoneuroimmunological approach. The recent changes in dietary modifications, clinical applications, and evolution in the field of immunology have created the need for a book which addresses the growing awareness of health benefits that can be achieved by buffering the effects of stress on the immune system. Emphasizing the importance of the interaction among the mind, the body, and physical health, this reference includes important developmental procedures that can be used to resist stress on the immune system. By examining components of the immune system, along with the effects of psychological stress and the capacity for hormonal response, author Bruce Rabin demonstrates, in a concise, accessible manner, the ability of an individual's immune system to alter susceptibility to immune-mediated diseases. In addition, the book examines several key issues in this rapidly expanding field, including: * Information and examples that illustrate how distinct areas of the brain that perceive the presence of a stressor are able to communicate with the cells of the immune system * The correlation between stress-related changes in health practices and stressor-induced risks of disease development * The effect on the immune system due to stress from an increased concentration of neuropeptides and hormones * Behaviors and beliefs that can reduce the harmful effects of stress on the immune system by interfering with the stress-responsive areas of the brain * The issue of stress during pregnancy and the early period of development on behaviors and immune functions in children An authoritative guide for all researchers and students in the fields of immunology, neuroscience, and psychology, Stress, Immune Function, and Health: The Connection is also an essential reference for physicians and nurses concerned with stress and immune-related diseases.

This comprehensive resource details the history, methodology and development of research into psychoneuroimmunology, balancing it with meticulous coverage of both the clinical aspects and practical applications of the subject. A much-needed reference including overviews of key advances in the field Discusses how psychoneuroimmunological research is conceived and executed Includes contributions from a wealth of experts in the field Forward by Robert Ader and Nicholas Cohen, founders of the discipline Authoritative and interdisciplinary in scope - integrating biological and behavioral science

This volume collects the state-of-the-art applications of psychological theory to the interactions among the mind, the nervous system, and the immune system, including applications drawn from affective science, developmental psychology, behavioral neuroscience, and clinical psychology.

More Than a Book About Stress – A Self-Help Tool That Gathers All You Need to Know to Stay Healthy In recent years, we have gained increasing knowledge of the roles stress and stress hormones play in our health. It is amazing how the presentation of a stressor—whether in one event or a series of events—might involve us in appraising the environmental challenge and lead us to the “fight-or-flight” response on a physiological level. The idea that stress has only harmful effects does not draw a full picture of its role in our health and well-being. It is scientifically proven that stress and stress hormones not only have a negative impact on our bodies, but they also have potentially beneficial properties, aimed at mobilizing our immune system for fighting immunologic confrontations. How does this work? In Stress and Immunity, Dr. Inna B. Mertsalova illustrates how our immune system functions under exposure to stress. Understanding these processes can help us cope with stress and stay healthy. The book also includes a test to check how you cope with stress and the information about sleep habits, physical activities, and nutrition that are necessary for reducing your stress level. This book is a valuable empirically proven source of information about the bi-directional effects of stress on our immune system. This book is written for everyone who wants to understand how stress modifies our body causing illness. Also, this volume has a great potential as a supplemental reading material for graduate students in the broad range of medical education.

Stress: Immunology and Inflammation, Volume Five in the Handbook of Stress series, covers the influence physiologic stress has on immunity, immunology and inflammation. It provides a quick orientation to the subject for research, in clinic use, and in everyday life. Integrated closely with new behavioral findings and with relevance to human conditions, the concepts and data in this volume offer readers cutting-edge information. It will be of prime interest to neuroscientists, clinicians, researchers, academics, and students in Neuroendocrinology, Neuroscience, Biomedicine, Immunology, Endocrinology, Psychology, Psychiatry and some aspects of the Social Sciences. The effect of stress on our emotional and physical health can be devastating. There have been significant advances in our understanding of the influence stress has on inflammation in the human body and also our immunity to various afflictions. Articles carefully selected by eminent stress researchers and prepared by contributors representing outstanding scholarship in the field, with each chapter fully vetted for reliable expert knowledge Richly illustrated with explanatory figures and tables Each chapter includes a boxed “Key points call out section The volume is fully indexed All chapters are electronically available via ScienceDirect Affordably priced, self-contained volume for readers specifically interested in the interaction between stress inflammation and the immune response, obviating the need to purchase the whole Handbook series

"[F]or those who are entering the field or who want to broaden their perspective, Ibelieve that this Handbook is indispensible. More than just a contribution to the field, theHandbook may well become a classic."--PsycCRITIQUES "The editors fully achieved their goal of producing a state-of-the-science stress reference for use by investigators, educators, and practitioners with clinical and health interests."--Psycho-Oncology "This is an important book about the scientific study of stress and human adaptation. It brings together both empirical data and theoretical developments that address the fundamental question of how psychosocial variables get inside the body to influence neurobiological processes that culminate in physical disease." From the Foreword by David C. Glass, PhD Emeritus Professor of Psychology Stony Brook University Edited by two leading health psychologists, The Handbook of Stress Science presents a detailed overview of key topics in stress and health psychology. With discussions on how stress influences physical health-including its effects on the nervous, endocrine, cardiovascular, and immune systems-the text is a valuable source for health psychologists, as well as researchers in behavioral medicine, neuroscience, genetics, clinical and social psychology, sociology, and public health. This state-of-the-art resource reviews conceptual developments, empirical findings, clinical applications, and investigative strategies and tools from the past few decades of stress research. It represents all major approaches to defining stress and describes the themes and developments that characterize the field of health-related stress research. The five sections of this handbook cover: Current knowledge regarding the major biological structures and systems that are involved in the stress response Social-contextual contributions to stress and to processes of adaptation to stress, including the workplace, socioeconomic status, and social support The concept of cognitive appraisal as it relates to stress and emotion psychological factors influencing stress such as, personality, gender, and adult development The evidence linking stress to health-related behaviors and mental and physical health outcomes Research methods, tools, and strategies, including the principles and techniques of both laboratory experimentation and naturalistic stress research