Chronic stress also depresses the immune system by impairing the function of glucocorticoid receptors normally used to inhibit or shut down inflammatory responses. This action conserves bodily energy to engage in a fight-or-flight response for what the mind perceives as life-threatening stress. Interfering with the behavior of these immune receptors results in a dysfunction referred to as Glucocorticoid Receptor Resistance (GCR) in which the duration and intensity of inflammatory responses increase, heightening the risk for asthma and other autoimmune diseases and encouraging the onset and
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