How can stress affect wound healing?

Stress can significantly impact the body’s ability to heal wounds due to its effects on the immune system. When a person experiences stress, the body releases stress hormones, such as cortisol, which can suppress various functions of the immune system. A weakened immune response can lead to an increased risk of infection at the wound site and a longer overall healing time.

Increased stress can also result in inflammatory responses, which may lead to delayed healing. The body's resources are diverted to managing stress rather than focusing on repair processes, further prolonging recovery. Therefore, the negative impact of stress on the immune system is a critical factor in understanding why wound healing is affected.

The other options do not accurately reflect the relationship between stress and wound healing. Stress does not enhance the immune response or positively affect recovery, nor is it true that stress has no impact on healing. This makes the correct answer the one that highlights the negative effects stress has on immune function and healing time.