What is the physiological effect of chronic stress on the immune system and recovery from exercise?

• A. Chronic stress has no effect on immunity
• B. It enhances immune function
• C. It slightly increases muscle growth
• D. Chronic stress suppresses immune function, increases inflammation, and slows recovery and healing after exercise

Answer: (D)

Chronic stress keeps the body in a prolonged fight-or-flight state, with sustained cortisol and sympathetic activity that disrupt immune function and recovery after exercise. Persistently elevated cortisol can suppress the production and activity of immune cells, reduce natural killer cell function, and blunt antibody responses, making the body less capable of fighting infections. At the same time, chronic stress promotes a pro-inflammatory environment, so baseline inflammation can rise, which can interfere with how efficiently tissues repair after exercise. All of this means repair processes slow down, muscle healing takes longer, and recovery from workouts is delayed. In short, chronic stress dampens immunity, heightens inflammation, and slows recovery and healing after exercise.