Stress often gets a bad reputation, and for good reasons.
Chronic stress can take a toll on physical and mental health, weakening immune function and slowing recovery. But what if certain types of stress could actually make us stronger?
That’s exactly what Guillaume Spielmann, PhD, and his team at Louisiana State University and Our Lady of the Lake Health are exploring through an ongoing research project. Their focus? How the immune system of high-performance individuals like athletes, astronauts, first responders and trauma survivors respond to stress
Turning Stress into Strength
“We usually think of stress as being bad for us,” Dr. Spielmann says. “However, at Our Lady of the Lake and LSU, we are researching how specific stressors, such as exercise, can be beneficial for our immune health.”
Through their studies, Dr. Spielmann and his team are uncovering how short-term, controlled stress — like the kind experienced during single bouts of exercise — can enhance the body’s ability to fight infections and recover from illness.
But the picture changes when stress becomes chronic and overwhelming.
“If you’re exposed to sustained high-level stress — whether you’re an athlete, a trauma victim or a tactical athlete like a firefighter, police officer or astronaut — it can weigh on you, leading to detrimental effects on your immune health,” Dr. Spielmann explains.
The Impact of Champions
The research is already yielding exciting possibilities. By studying how stress affects high-performance individuals, the team is identifying strategies to maximize immune health and recovery — not just for the elite but for everyone.
“Our goal is to use the research we are conducting right now on high-performance individuals to help and improve the health of everyone,” Dr. Spielmann says. “If we can harness the benefits of exercise and resilience training to maximize immune health, everyone wins.”
This work is more than just science — it’s about creating a ripple effect. From the locker room to the emergency room to the launch pad, the findings have the potential to improve health outcomes for people from all walks of life.
Why It Matters
Stress is an unavoidable part of life, but understanding how to manage and harness its effects can lead to healthier communities and a brighter future. Whether you’re an athlete striving for peak performance, a trauma survivor on the road to recovery or simply someone seeking to live well, this research offers hope.
The work being done today through Championship Health Partners Our Lady of the Lake Health and LSU represents more than just a collaboration — it’s a powerhouse for advancing health science. Together, we are tackling some of the most pressing challenges in medicine, focusing on resilience, recovery and the transformative power of research.
