Short-term Stress Enhances Anti-tumor Activity In Mice, Study Shows
Monday, September 21, 2009 - 22:21
in Health & Medicine
Researchers have shown that, at least in laboratory mice, bouts of relatively short-term stress can boost the immune system and protect against one type of cancer. Furthermore, the beneficial effects of this occasional angst seem to last for weeks after the stressful situation has ended. The finding is surprising because chronic stress has the opposite effect -- taxing the immune system and increasing susceptibility to disease.