Health knowledge made personal
Join this community!
› Share page: Email Digg del.icio.us Reddit icon StumbleUpon Technorati
Go
Search posts:

Some interesting research on chronic illnesses

Posted Aug 05 2008 1:20pm

I think these are worth paying attention to because they each uncover information that goes beyond one illness - and might hold some links to how we can live more ‘productive’ lives.

In this recent study( Mechanism behind Mind-Body Connection Explains How Chronic Stress Ages Immune System), the researchers have identified some factors that might explain why people who are under “constant stress” are more suceptible to illness. 

“… preventing damage to the immune systems of persons who are under long-term stress, such as caregivers to chronically ill family members, as well as astronauts, soldiers, air traffic controllers and people who drive long daily commutes.” 

I wonder about the stress that people who live with chronic illness experience.  I imagine there’s a huge toll on the cortisol  level  (which when is lowered with chronic stress and apparently creates this vulnerability to illness)  when your body is constantly pushing itself beyond what is comfortable. 

 ”… If we’re successful, one day a pill may exist to strengthen the immune system’s ability to weather chronic emotional stress.”   How about weathering chronic physical stress?

********************************************************************************

New research  shows thatcognitive behavioral therapycan be successful in treating the symptoms of chronic fatigue syndrome.  According to this article (Cognitive Behavior Therapy Helps Chronic Fatigue), the research looked data over 1,000 patients and it looks like they did better than those who didn’t receive CBT. 

I wonder why the researchers looked at chronic fatigue sydrome rather than the numerous other diseases in which people have debilitating pain or fatigue. 

Have you had any success with CBT? 

Rosalind  aka cicoach.com



Post a comment
Write a comment: