Stress slows down healing time
According to a recent study worrying whilst you are ill can prevent you from getting well.
According to researcher and psychologist Professor John Weinman, the more anxious the patients were the longer their wounds would take to heal. The patients who experienced little to no stress healed at twice the speed.
The researchers measured levels of the stress hormone cortisol in 25 volunteers before cutting minute pieces of skin from the arms of the volunteers. The healing of their wounds was then observed using ultrasound and it was found that the least stressed healed at roughly double the speed of the most stressed.
The wounds of those who aired their troubles in personal diaries were found to have the quickest recovery times, suggesting that unburdening ourselves boosts us physically.
It is hoped that this research can be used to help patients make speedier recoveries.
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