Originally published January 3 2006
Researchers discover marital arguments impair the body's healing mechanisms
by Mike Adams, the Health Ranger, NaturalNews Editor
The Archives of General Psychiatry has published new research that demonstrates the impact of marital stress on the body's ability to heal.
Scientists have discovered that the stress of a typical 30-minute tiff can prevent physical wounds from healing by at least one day.
Moreover, couples whose relationships are generally hostile may suffer longer delays in the healing process -- even twice as long.
Jan Kiecolt-Glaser, a professor of psychiatry and psychology, and partner Ronald Glaser, a professor of molecular virology, immunology and medical genetics, both at Ohio State, say the findings provide important recommendations for patients facing surgery.
"This shows specifically why it is so important that people be psychologically prepared for their surgeries," Kiecolt-Glaser explains.
"We have enough data now from all of our past studies," adds Glaser, "to basically suggest that hospitals need to modify existing practices in ways that will reduce stress prior to surgery."
During each visit, both the husband and wife were fitted with a small suction device which created eight tiny uniform blisters on their arms.
The skin was removed from each blister and another device placed directly over each small wound, forming a protective bubble, from which researchers could extract fluids that normally fill such blisters.
Both discussions were videotaped, and those tapes were used to gauge the level of hostility present between the couples.
Fluid accumulating at the individual wound sites and peripheral blood samples were also taken from each participant.
Increased levels of IL-6 at the site of a wound stimulate the healing process, but those same levels circulating throughout the bloodstream is a problem.
Sustained higher-than-normal levels of IL-6 have been linked to long-term inflammation, which is implicated in a host of age-related illnesses: cardiovascular disease, osteoporosis, arthritis, type-2 diabetes, certain lymphoproliferative diseases and cancers, Alzheimers disease and periodontal disease.
"This supports our long-held contention that even small changes in cytokine levels will have a marked effect on health," adds Glaser.
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