Chronic sleep disturbances and constant anxiety can have a serious negative impact not only on the mental state, but also on other systems of the human body. Experts from the University of Ta'ib in Saudi Arabia came to this conclusion. The results of their research were published in the prestigious journal Frontiers in Immunology.
As part of the new work, scientists studied a group of women aged 17 to 23 years. Study participants were first screened for general anxiety disorder and insomnia. After that, blood samples were taken from them for laboratory analysis, and immunological indicators in the body were thoroughly analyzed.
The results turned out to be alarming. Anxiety symptoms were detected in approximately 75% of women, and sleep disturbances in more than 50%. Most importantly, a sharp decrease in the number of circulating natural killer cells - NK-cells - was observed in this group. In particular, the level of CD16+ and CD56+ cells was reduced. These cells play a crucial role in the rapid destruction of viruses and tumor cells.
According to scientists, this data once again confirms the scientific hypothesis that psychological factors can directly weaken the immune system. Because natural killer cells are the organism's first defense line. Their deficiency not only increases the risk of seasonal colds and infections, but also weakens immune control over the development of malignant tumors.
The authors of the study pay special attention to the issue of prevention. They believe it is necessary to include measures to improve sleep quality and stabilize mental state in medical protocols for the prevention of immune disorders. That is, health should be protected not only by medicines, but also by lifestyle and psycho-emotional state.
Of course, the number of study participants is limited. Nevertheless, the obtained results provide a solid foundation for a more in-depth study of connections in the field of psychoneuroimmunology. The scientific team plans to conduct long-term research on broader demographic strata in the future. The main goal is to track over time how immunity is restored when treating anxiety disorders.
In conclusion, sleep and peace of mind are crucial not only for mood but also for immune system health.
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