A hormone called neuropeptide Y (NPY) released when we are under stress can debilitate our immune system and allow colds, influenza and even depression to take hold.
According to Journal of Experimental Medicine, there is link between the brain and the immune system and will help in understanding the interplay between stress and stress related illnesses.
During periods of stress, nerves release a lot of NPY and it gets into the bloodstream, where it inhibits the cells in the immune system that look out for and destroy pathogens in the body.
The next step is finding ways of stimulating the immune systems of people who have high levels of stress and are likely to fall ill. But drugs to block the effects of stress on the immune system were a long way off.
In the meantime, it is important that we understand how bad stress is for all of us, the best thing to do is to remove stress from our lives just by reorganizing the way we live, changing our lifestyle and using things like yoga and relaxation to the best of our ability.
According to Journal of Experimental Medicine, there is link between the brain and the immune system and will help in understanding the interplay between stress and stress related illnesses.
During periods of stress, nerves release a lot of NPY and it gets into the bloodstream, where it inhibits the cells in the immune system that look out for and destroy pathogens in the body.
The next step is finding ways of stimulating the immune systems of people who have high levels of stress and are likely to fall ill. But drugs to block the effects of stress on the immune system were a long way off.
In the meantime, it is important that we understand how bad stress is for all of us, the best thing to do is to remove stress from our lives just by reorganizing the way we live, changing our lifestyle and using things like yoga and relaxation to the best of our ability.
