Question:

Identify the correct statement related to stress and its impact on immune system:
A. Stress can cause illness by impairing the function of the immune system.
B. Stress can affect natural killer cell cytotoxicity.
C. Stress hormones weaken the immune system and thereby affect mental and physical health.
D. Optimal Stress always enhances the functioning of immune system.
Choose the correct answer from the options given below:

Show Hint

A, B and C are true and D is false, so option (2).
Updated On: Oct 1, 2026
  • A, B and D only
  • A, B and C only
  • A, C and D only
  • A, B, C and D
Show Solution
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The Correct Option is B

Solution and Explanation

Step 1: Understanding the Concept:
Psychoneuroimmunology studies how stress and the immune system affect each other. Long or heavy stress lowers the body's defence.

Step 2: Check statement A.
Stress can weaken the immune system, and a weak immune system can lead to illness. So A is TRUE.

Step 3: Check statement B.
Natural killer cells are immune cells that destroy infected or abnormal cells. Studies show stress lowers their killing power (cytotoxicity). So B is TRUE.

Step 4: Check statement C.
Stress hormones such as cortisol suppress immune activity over time. This hurts both physical and mental health. So C is TRUE.

Step 5: Check statement D.
The word always makes this statement false. A moderate level of stress may help for a short while, but it does not always improve the immune system. So D is FALSE.

Step 6: Match with the options.
The true statements are A, B and C. Option (2) lists exactly these. Options (1), (3) and (4) all include D, so they are wrong.

Final Answer:
Statements A, B and C are correct. This is option (2).
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