Stress and the common cold

Article Abstract:

Psychological stress has been studied for many years; it has been suggested that different types of stress, whether physical, chemical or psychological, cause a similar physiological response. Psychological stress and psychiatric disorders may share certain features. Research on interactions between the central nervous system and the immune system have recently been undertaken, and the term 'psychoneuroimmunology' has been used to describe the study of the impact of the central nervous system on immune response. The question remains whether the effect of stress on the central nervous system is great enough to have an impact on susceptibility to common infections. Sheldon Cohen and his colleagues report in the August 29, 1991 issue of The New England Journal of Medicine that psychological stress increases susceptibility to the common cold. However, this association was found to be greater with infection than with actual clinical illness. Personality traits, self-esteem, and personal control, had little effect on stress and colds. The greater the degree of stress, the greater the likelihood of infection. Because the effect of stress was relatively small, it is possible that the colds were influenced by factors that were not considered in the Sheldon study. Some of these factors may include smoking, alcohol consumption, or living alone versus living in a family. The relationship between stress and the common cold is still open to question. (Consumer Summary produced by Reliance Medical Information, Inc.)

Psychological aspects, editorial

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Psychological stress and susceptibility to the common cold

Article Abstract:

It has been suggested that emotional stress impairs resistance to infection, and several animal and human studies support this view. Most earlier studies failed to find evidence of an effect of stress on infection, and often failed to control for the effects of behavioral and biological influences. Stressful events may suppress the immune system, and may also increase smoking and alcohol consumption, thereby altering immune responses. To test the relationship between stress and the common cold, 394 healthy men and women were tested for degree of stress, and were then exposed to one of five cold viruses; an additional 26 healthy subjects were given a placebo. Several demographic (including age, sex, weight, housing style, and allergic status) and personality variables (self-esteem and personal control) were analyzed, as well as health practices (smoking, alcohol consumption, exercise, quality of sleep, and diet) were analyzed. Differences in white cell counts and antibody levels were also measured. Psychological stress was associated with a greater risk for developing a cold. The rate of development of clinical illness (an actual cold) was relatively low; detection of infection with the virus was much more likely. The likelihood of getting a cold was the same for the different viruses, suggesting that stress suppresses general resistance or many different immune processes. (Consumer Summary produced by Reliance Medical Information, Inc.)

Virus diseases, Disease transmission

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Social ties and susceptibility to the common cold

Article Abstract:

People with large social networks may be less susceptible to colds. Researchers gave 276 healthy people nose drops containing rhinoviruses linked to the common cold. People with many social ties were less likely to develop a cold, shed less virus and produced less mucus. Those with the fewest social ties were four times more likely to develop a cold compared to those with the most. The link between social ties and colds persisted even when adjusting for smoking, low dietary vitamin C levels and season.

Social aspects, Disease susceptibility, Social participation

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