Reprinted from Web MD 6 Immune System Busters and Boosters
Everyone has some stress; it’s part of life. If stress drags on for a long time, it makes you more vulnerable to illness, from colds to serious diseases.
Chronic stress exposes your body to a steady stream of stress hormones that suppress the immune system.
You may not be able to get rid of your stress, but you can get better at managing it.
- Learn to meditate.
- Slow down.
- Connect with other people.
- Work out to blow off steam.
Counseling is a big help, too.
Easing stress lowers levels of a stress hormone. It also helps you sleep better, which improves immune function.
People who meditate regularly may have healthier immune system responses, some studies show. In one experiment*, people who meditated over an 8-week period made more antibodies to a flu vaccine than people who didn’t meditate. And they still showed an increased immune system response 4 months later.
*Psychosom Med. 2003 Jul-Aug;65(4):564-70
Filed Under: Monthly Musings