Immune response may tie stress to colds

Highly stressed people experience a sharp increase in the production of an immune-system chemical messenger, which may amplify common cold symptoms.

References:

Cohen, S, W.J. Doyl, and D.P. Skoner. 1999. Psychological stress, cytokine production and severity of upper respiratory illness. Psychosomatic Medicine 61(March/April):175.

Further Readings:

Bower, B. 1991. Emotional stress linked to common cold. Science News 140(Aug. 31):132.

Sources:

Sheldon Cohen
Carnegie Mellon University
Department of Psychology
Pittsburgh, PA 15213

From Science News, Vol. 155, No. 13, March 27, 1999, p. 199. Copyright © 1999, Science Service.

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