"For years stress and/or depression have been suspected of somehow increasing the risk of contracting numerous infectious diseases. In addition, there is mounting evidence that increased levels of stress and depression also correlate with an increased incidence of cancer. And finally, there is a strong statistical link between stress and depression and death itself. As a result, a relatively new field of research, psychoneuroimmunology, is dedicated to unlocking the connection between thoughts (i.e., our nervous systems) and the immune system.
Psychoneuroimmunology researchers have discovered several links between our thoughts and the immune system. For one, we know that when we are stressed, our bodies produce more of the stress hormone adrenaline. While it is true that adrenaline helps to mobilize the body's energy reserves, it also causes a decrease in available antibodies and a reduction in both the number and strength of lymphocytes. We have also learned that the brain is directly wired to the organs of the immune system (the spleen, thymus, lymph nodes, and bone marrow) and that stress and depression affect their performance.
Most interesting of all is the connection between the neuropeptides produced by brain cells and the rest of the body. In much the same way that the immune system uses interleukins to communicate with itself, the brain uses the hormone-like neuropeptides to communicate with itself and the rest of the body, including the immune system. The cells of the immune system carry receptors for the various neuropeptides produced by the brain. When we are happy, for example, the brain produces one kind of neuropeptide and the cells of the immune system have specific receptors for these 'up' chemicals. Once received, these neuropeptides cause the immune system to strengthen and build. Correspondingly, when we are depressed, we produce a different set of neuropeptides and immune cells also have receptors for these 'down' communicators, whose net effect on the immune system is to shut it down.
Incidentally, this is by no means a one-way communication. The cells of the brain have receptor sites for the interleukins and interferons produced by the lymphocytes of the immune system. And it turns out that some macrophages and activated lymphocytes are capable of producing their own neuropeptides—to communicate directly with the brain in its own language. Basically, through the same two systems (the nervous system and the circulatory system) that our minds use to interact with our immune systems, our minds also connect with every organ and cell in our bodies, affecting the performance, functioning, and growth of our bones and bone marrow, glands, heart (everything from heart rate to the heart tissue itself), the walls of our veins and arteries, the functioning of individual cells, and even the very structure of our DNA. The entire body is created and run by the brain, with equal feedback from the organs and cells themselves, again through both the direct wired connections of the nervous system and the neuropeptides traveling through the circulatory system."
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Psychoneuroimmunology researchers have discovered several links between our thoughts and the immune system. For one, we know that when we are stressed, our bodies produce more of the stress hormone adrenaline. While it is true that adrenaline helps to mobilize the body's energy reserves, it also causes a decrease in available antibodies and a reduction in both the number and strength of lymphocytes. We have also learned that the brain is directly wired to the organs of the immune system (the spleen, thymus, lymph nodes, and bone marrow) and that stress and depression affect their performance.
Most interesting of all is the connection between the neuropeptides produced by brain cells and the rest of the body. In much the same way that the immune system uses interleukins to communicate with itself, the brain uses the hormone-like neuropeptides to communicate with itself and the rest of the body, including the immune system. The cells of the immune system carry receptors for the various neuropeptides produced by the brain. When we are happy, for example, the brain produces one kind of neuropeptide and the cells of the immune system have specific receptors for these 'up' chemicals. Once received, these neuropeptides cause the immune system to strengthen and build. Correspondingly, when we are depressed, we produce a different set of neuropeptides and immune cells also have receptors for these 'down' communicators, whose net effect on the immune system is to shut it down.
Incidentally, this is by no means a one-way communication. The cells of the brain have receptor sites for the interleukins and interferons produced by the lymphocytes of the immune system. And it turns out that some macrophages and activated lymphocytes are capable of producing their own neuropeptides—to communicate directly with the brain in its own language. Basically, through the same two systems (the nervous system and the circulatory system) that our minds use to interact with our immune systems, our minds also connect with every organ and cell in our bodies, affecting the performance, functioning, and growth of our bones and bone marrow, glands, heart (everything from heart rate to the heart tissue itself), the walls of our veins and arteries, the functioning of individual cells, and even the very structure of our DNA. The entire body is created and run by the brain, with equal feedback from the organs and cells themselves, again through both the direct wired connections of the nervous system and the neuropeptides traveling through the circulatory system."
Like & Share (G.Shyam)
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thanks for feedback, hope from U to share this!