What is a consequence of chronic stress on tissue healing?

• A. Delayed healing due to impaired immune function
• B. Accelerated healing
• C. No effect on healing
• D. Decreased pain perception

Answer: (A)

Chronic stress disrupts tissue repair by weakening immune and inflammatory processes that are essential for wound healing. Prolonged exposure to stress hormones like cortisol and catecholamines dampens neutrophil and macrophage activity, reduces cytokine signaling, and impairs fibroblast function and collagen synthesis. This slows the proliferative and remodeling phases of healing, leading to delayed wound closure and weaker tissue. So the consequence is delayed healing due to impaired immune function. Accelerated healing isn’t supported by physiology, there’s typically impaired repair rather than none, and decreased pain perception isn’t the expected outcome of chronic stress on healing.