Cortisol Inflammation

[Aet1985]

I was wondering are we more prone to have immune issues? I have eczema and while now with medication it is not as bad, but when I get stressed or constant anxiety it is out of control. I have read that cortisol the stress hormone can cause internal inflammation. I don't know if after 39 years I made myself sick, I am hard on myself because I see people my age and younger, they seem to take on so much, without getting eczema, anxiety, ocd and emotional meltdowns.

 

[FayetheAspie]

I was wondering are we more prone to have immune issues? I have eczema and while now with medication it is not as bad, but when I get stressed or constant anxiety it is out of control. I have read that cortisol the stress hormone can cause internal inflammation. I don't know if after 39 years I made myself sick, I am hard on myself because I see people my age and younger, they seem to take on so much, without getting eczema, anxiety, ocd and emotional meltdowns.

I seem to get eczema or something similar on my hands every winter.

 

[SusanLR]

I've always believed emotional stress breaks down the human body.
People who can live happy-go-lucky and are content with life in general have a healthier immune system.
In fact, science knows this.

Studies say we have a shorter life expectancy, and the stress hormones is why in my opinion and many others on the forum as per another thread on life expectancy and autism.

I have never had good health, and I put the reason on the anxiety filled life.

 

[Outdated]

People who can live happy-go-lucky and are content with life in general have a healthier immune system.
In fact, science knows this.

Many years ago I worked with a Chilean man that made a similar comment to me. He was amazed at how I looked so much younger than my actual age and that I was always so cool and calm and content. He said "You always sleep well, don't you?". And yes, I always did sleep well.

He was wrong about why my hands shake sometimes though, that's just low blood sugar and not alcoholism.

 

[Neonatal RRT]

I was wondering are we more prone to have immune issues? I have eczema and while now with medication it is not as bad, but when I get stressed or constant anxiety it is out of control. I have read that cortisol the stress hormone can cause internal inflammation. I don't know if after 39 years I made myself sick, I am hard on myself because I see people my age and younger, they seem to take on so much, without getting eczema, anxiety, ocd and emotional meltdowns.

The short answer is YES.

Do a Google Scholar search under "autism and immune function" and you will find several articles on the topic. Chronic inflammation is part of the condition. Elevated homocysteine levels, elevated catecholamine levels, elevated cortisol levels, and a propensity for our immune system to produce excessive amounts of inflammatory mediator chemicals when we do get sick has been well-documented. The downstream effects of this, over time, can contribute to hypertension, kidney dysfunction, metabolic syndrome and diabetes, endocrine dysfunction (thyroid, adrenal, pituitary, etc.) and early onset dementia. Interestingly, I haven't seen any information suggesting we are "immunocompromised" in the sense we are more susceptible to getting sick, but when we do, it appears to be a more intense course. Same thing with vigorous exercise like heavy weightlifting, the post workout inflammation and recovery time appears to be longer (I competed on a national level for about a decade). If your primary care physician has ever been confused or concerned about your lab values and neither of you can figure it out, if you dig into the autism literature, you may find some interesting findings.

 

[Rachie]

Studies say we have a shorter life expectancy, and the stress hormones is why in my opinion and many others on the forum as per another thread on life expectancy and autism.

I had to look for more evidence for this after reading this.
I have certainly read of in the past about autistics dying earlier than non autistics. I have even read of reported life expectancy into the 50s which gave me concern when other members of my family who were young identified as most likely autistic.
I knew of other potentially autistic people in my family who also appeared with several symptoms, but were eldery and in relatively good health, so started to question for those nearest and dearest to me as well who I was concerned for as well.
I looked into this quite recently and read the below..
Our results suggest that there are greater risks of co-occurring physical health conditions and complex health needs across the lifespan among autistic people compared to non-autistic people. This may be due to biological contributors (e.g., genetic or hormonal) to risk of these physical health conditions and/or due to social/economic issues related to negative life experiences, stigma, as well as poorer self-reported healthcare quality. Importantly, no singular cause of the poorer physical health of autistic emerges from the existing literature or the present study,” the study authors concluded. The article is based of the one below it-

Increased rates of chronic physical health conditions across all organ systems in autistic adolescents and adults - Molecular Autism


Obviously there are diagnosed people with autism now who are in the 80+s. They may have enough weath to get the health care they need and are not living in poverty and can get decent nutrition. They also appear to have the wits about to get themselves the medical attention they need. Anonthy Hopkins is an example of this.

I had to look into today further to see where are at agreed about lower life expetancy. There does indeed appear to be accoding to the articles in reduction in life span among autistics. This doesn't cause to me feel pleasant to post it, but it is reality. However, it is not as bad as first assumed, but still not great with the projections they have given. If you are intending to stay around some time, do what you can to give yourself a better quality that you can.

Before, the research I will add that I have often been found to have a higher than normal ESR in my bloods, which can be used to get a gauge of inflammation in the body. Also, CRP can be used an indication of inflamation markers and thankfully mostly mine back in ok despite my raised and sometimes very raised ESR.

I also do wonder if those old style aspergers had better life expectancy than someone say with Autism level 3 now.
The facts on where we are with life expetancy today according to research-

https://www.ucl.ac.uk/news/2023/nov...rch-into-the-life-expectancy-of-autistic-peop

Research into the life expectancy of autistic people in the UK

https://researchportal.ukhsa.gov.uk...ctancy-and-years-of-life-lost-for-autistic-pe

Autism Life Expectancy: What Parents Need to Know [2024]

 

[Rachie]

OK that was the factual stuff out of the way above. A few months ago I became very sensitive to the touch. You couldn't touch me without causing me pain. I tried to get my ESR measured but couldn't but did get my CRP measured which was OK. Still, would have liked to have known the ESR to. I know may be some of my other conditions it may impact that as well.

So those who do experience raised inflammation what have you tried? For me sometimes a good amount of water can help move matters along and rest as well. Also, recently I bought Dandelion tea as I read it can help with inflammation. The taste doesn't do anything for me. I'd be prepared to give it go a go again If you had a positive experience with it. Or whatever over the counter things you have tried that has lowered your inflammation levels.

I have been prescribed medication for pretty excema as well and think that really our overwhelms and medication. May be a stress at times especially if you induce the fight and flight response and andrelian.