Worrying too much? Researchers found dwelling on negative events can increase levels of inflammation in the body. |
Worrying too much about stressful events can trigger inflammation, according to a new study. Researchers found dwelling on negative events can increase levels of inflammation in the body. They discovered that when study participants were asked to ruminate on a stressful incident, their levels of C-reactive protein, a marker of tissue inflammation, rose. The study is the first time to directly measure this effect in the body. Study lead author Peggy Zoccola, an assistant professor of psychology at Ohio University in the United States, said: 'Researchers have asked people to report their tendency to ruminate, and then looked to see if it connected to physiological issues. It's been correlational for the most part.' The research team recruited 34 healthy young women to participate in the project. Each woman was asked to give a speech about her candidacy for a job to two interviewers in white laboratory coats, who listened with 'stone-faced' expressions. Half of the group was asked to contemplate their performance in the public speaking task, while the other half was asked to think about neutral images and activities, such as sailing ships or grocery store trips. The researchers drew blood samples that showed that the levels of C-reactive protein were significantly higher in the subjects who were asked to dwell on the speech. For these participants, the levels of the inflammatory marker continued to rise for at least one hour after the speech. During the same time period, the marker returned to starting levels in the subjects who had been asked to focus on other thoughts. The C-reactive protein is primarily produced by the liver as part of the immune system's initial inflammatory response. It rises in response to traumas, injuries or infections in the body. C-reactive protein is widely used as a clinical marker to determine if a patient has an infection, but also if he or she may be at risk for disease later in life. Doctor Zoccola said: 'More and more, chronic inflammation is being associated with various disorders and conditions. 'The immune system plays an important role in various cardiovascular disorders such as heart disease, as well as cancer, dementia and autoimmune diseases.' (Source: Dailymail)
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一項新研究指出,為一些讓人倍感壓力的事情過度煩惱可能會引發(fā)炎癥。 研究人員發(fā)現(xiàn),總是為負面事情擔(dān)心會讓體內(nèi)的炎癥水平上升。 他們發(fā)現(xiàn),當(dāng)他們讓研究的參與者們反復(fù)思考一件讓人倍感壓力的事情時,參與者體內(nèi)的C反應(yīng)蛋白水平會上升。C反應(yīng)蛋白是人體組織炎癥的一個標(biāo)記。 該研究是首次對身體產(chǎn)生的這一反應(yīng)直接進行測量。 該研究報告的第一作者、美國俄亥俄大學(xué)心理學(xué)助理教授佩吉?左可拉說:“研究人員讓人們報告她們陷入沉思的傾向性,然后研究這一傾向性是否與生理問題有關(guān)。結(jié)果表明這一傾向性可以和生理問題在很大程度上產(chǎn)生關(guān)聯(lián)。” 該研究團隊招募了34位健康的年輕女性來參與這一項目。 研究人員讓每名女性向兩個穿著實驗室白大褂的面試官陳述自己如何有資格勝任一份工作。這兩個考官聽取陳述時都是面無表情。 團隊中有一半人被要求在公開演講環(huán)節(jié)仔細考慮自己的表現(xiàn),而另一半人則被要求想一些不會讓人產(chǎn)生情緒波動的圖像和活動,比如帆船或雜貨店之行。 研究人員采集了她們的血液樣本,樣本顯示,那些被要求認真思考演講表現(xiàn)的參與者體內(nèi)的C反應(yīng)蛋白水平要高得多。 在演講結(jié)束后至少一個小時,這些參與者體內(nèi)標(biāo)志著炎癥的蛋白水平依然持續(xù)上升。 而在此期間,那些被要求集中注意力想其他事情的參與者體內(nèi)的C反應(yīng)蛋白水平卻回到了起點。 C反應(yīng)蛋白主要由肝臟產(chǎn)生,是免疫系統(tǒng)對炎癥初步反應(yīng)的一部分。在身體遭受外傷、損傷或感染時C反應(yīng)蛋白水平會相應(yīng)上升。 C反應(yīng)蛋白被廣泛作為確定病人是否被感染的一個臨床指標(biāo),但也被用來預(yù)測病人日后患疾病的風(fēng)險。 左可拉醫(yī)生說:“慢性炎癥被越來越多地與各種失調(diào)癥和疾病聯(lián)系起來。 “免疫系統(tǒng)在癌癥、癡呆癥、自體免疫疾病和各種心血管疾?。ㄈ缧呐K病)中都起著重要作用。” 相關(guān)閱讀 (中國日報網(wǎng)英語點津 陳丹妮 編輯:Julie) |
Vocabulary: dwell on: (心里)老是想著,老是惦念著;擔(dān)心著(某事);細想 ruminate: 沉思;反復(fù)思考 |