Give your Immune System a Helping Hand

01.5.2017

At work, some of us interact with numerous people every day and that significantly raises the likelihood that we’ll get ill, especially over winter. The chances of getting a cold, flu, or any other infectious illness rise in proportion to the number of people you meet.

 

Some of us have a better immunity to such illness than others and it’s not always clear why, but if you can defend yourself against illness you can reduce the number of workdays you lose and you can reduce the chance of more serious illnesses developing.

 

Evidence suggests that mindfulness is a good line of defence against illness, as it helps the immune system to work more effectively in fighting off diseases we come into contact with. It may even help prevent more serious illnesses such as heart disease and cancer.

 

How does the immune system work?

The immune system is the complex relationship between organs, cells, and proteins in the body. Its effectiveness plays a critical part in our physical health and our ability to fight off illness. When it’s doing its job effectively, we’re well protected from the airborne germs we ingest and we continue to be healthy.

 

Not only does our immune system guard against external threats, it also stops the body’s own cells from causing harm and mutating to develop cancer. It’s therefore vital to lead a healthy lifestyle to help support our immune system for a healthier life.

Does mindfulness reduce our susceptibility to illness?

A ground breaking review of 20 different randomized trials, looking at the effects of mindfulness meditation on the immune system, found that it reduces the inflammation in the body that causes us to be more susceptible to disease. An increased prevalence of CD-4 cells, which communicate with other cells to instruct them to destroy infections, was found in people who meditate. The study also found increased telomerase activity. Telomerase helps chromosomes to stay stable and stops them from deteriorating - which can lead to cancer and early aging.

 

Another study, conducted at the University of Wisconsin, explored the effects of mindfulness meditation on reducing the likelihood of acute respiratory infection. A total of 154 adults took part in the study. They were divided into three groups. One group undertook regular physical exercise, another took an eight-week mindfulness meditation course, while a third group acted as the control. The exercise group lost 45% fewer days of work due to respiratory infections, while the meditation group lost 76% fewer days - when compared to the control group.

 

Mindfulness meditation is a good line of defense against the germs we encounter every day.

How does mindfulness improve immunity to illness?

It may be that by decreasing stress and helping us to regulate our emotions, our brains and our immune systems come into a healthier relationship with one another. When we feel negatively about ourselves, our situation and are constantly triggered by our emotions, we leave ourselves open to disease because the immune system can’t operate as effectively under such conditions.

 

The centres of the brain that are activated by mindfulness and meditation help to make the body work more effectively. When these areas are stimulated, we’re enabling the command centre for the immune system to function more easily.

 

To find out how mindfulness can help to improve your health and prevent illness contact michael@mindfulnessworks.com or call (+44) 01223 750660