Immunity Takes a Beating Due to Stress

Stress levels can increase your susceptibility to illness by changing the composition of gut bacteria. Lead researcher Michael Bailey from Ohio State University said, 'These bacteria affect immune function, and may help explain why stress impairs the immune response.

'When we reduced the number of bacteria in the intestines using antibiotics, we found that some of the effects of stress on the immune system were prevented. This suggests that not only does stress change the bacteria levels in the gut, but that these alterations can, in turn, impact our immunity.'



Source-Medindia