Social Stress Boosts Immune System's Flu-Fighting Abilities

A new study in mice suggests that, in certain cases, stress may enhance the body's ability to fight the flu.
Short bouts of intense social stress improved the ability in the mice to recover from the flu. The stress apparently did so by substantially boosting the production of specialized immune cells that fought the virus.
"Stressed mice had a stronger immune response and were able to fight off the infection faster," said Jacqueline Wiesehan, a study co-author and a graduate fellow in oral biology at Ohio State University.

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<p><a href="http://www.physorg.com/news3589.html">Social Stress Boosts Immune System's Flu-Fighting Abilities</a></p> <p>A new study in mice suggests that, in certain cases, stress may enhance the body's ability to fight the flu. <br>Short bouts of intense social stress improved the ability in the mice to recover from the flu. The stress apparently did so by substantially boosting the production of specialized immune cells that fought the virus. <br>"Stressed mice had a stronger immune response and were able to fight off the infection faster," said Jacqueline Wiesehan, a study co-author and a graduate fellow in oral biology at Ohio State University.</p>