Scientists have known for some time that stress causes wounds to heal more slowly. Researchers in the Department of Medical Microbiology at Ohio State University found the hormones produced from psychological stress inhibit wound healing by slowing the body’s natural healing processes. Stress hormones slow the delivery of cytokines to the site of the injury, […]
The Mediterranean Diet and Mental Health
There has been a great deal of research about diet, the great majority of which has emphasized the importance of fruits, vegetables and whole foods. The Mediterranean diet, based primarily on fruits, vegetables and fish, can be particularly health protective, helping everything from cardiovascular disease to depression. Defining the Mediterranean diet can be challenging because […]
How to Reduce and Prevent Stress
In scientific terms, stress is defined as the nonspecific response of the body to any demand made upon it. Even when it feels like stress originates in the mind, the body is responding to it. More important than finding a definition for stress is understanding the effect it has on our bodies. Stress-producing factors, or […]
Chronic Stress and the Immune System
The reason that stress is related to so many ailments is largely due to its relationship with the immune system. Chronic stress interferes with normal function of the immune system and increases susceptibility to inflammatory problems such as allergies, autoimmune problems, and cardiovascular disease. A study at Washington University in St. Louis found that chronic […]