If you fret too much, you increase your level of inflammation and you weaken your body. Researchers at Ohio University have found that ruminating too much on stressful events results in an increase in protein C, a marker of inflammation. 34 healthy women were recruited for the purposes of the experiment.
Each woman had to sell her skills during a mock job interview. After the interview, half of the applicants were asked to reflect on their individual performance during the interview while the other half thought about neutral or more enjoyable activities such as boating or shopping.
Blood samples taken from both groups showed a significantly higher level of protein C on the side of the women who had rewatched the film of their recruitment interview.
Reduce stress to protect against certain illnesses
Protein C is sent by the liver as the first response of the immune system. This protein increases in response to trauma, injury or infection in the body.
The level of this protein is usually measured to determine if a patient has an infection or if they are at risk of developing certain diseases in the future, such as cancer, autoimmune diseasesor even degenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s. This new study tends to show that stress is a poison for the body. Fight against stress could protect the immune system.
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