It's commonly said: "Stay calm, or you might end up with heart disease." And there's a solid reason behind this warning. Chronic stress—whether from work, financial worries, or relationship problems—can significantly raise the risk of heart attacks. Scientists have been investigating how long-term stress harms the cardiovascular system, focusing on immune cells that enter the bloodstream. Their research has revealed a fascinating connection between stress and heart health.
Studies have shown that people exposed to high levels of stress, whether from surviving disasters or working long hours, are more likely to develop atherosclerosis—a condition where fatty plaques build up in the arteries. These plaques contain not only fat and cholesterol but also inflammatory immune cells like monocytes and neutrophils. When these plaques rupture, they can cause dangerous blockages elsewhere in the body, leading to strokes or heart attacks.
Recently, Dr. Matthias Nahrendorf from Harvard Medical School found that doctors working intense ICU shifts had higher levels of neutrophils and monocytes in their blood when they were most stressed. To explore if these immune cells link stress to atherosclerosis, he and his team conducted experiments on mice. The animals were exposed to various stressors, such as cage tilting, light changes, and social isolation. Like stressed humans, the mice showed increased levels of immune cells in their blood.
The researchers then investigated why immune cell levels rose. They knew chronic stress increases norepinephrine levels, and Nahrendorf discovered that this hormone binds to a receptor called β3 on stem cells in the bone marrow. This interaction alters the bone marrow environment, boosting the activity of newly produced white blood cells.
Nahrendorf explained, "Stress prepares the body for danger by increasing immune cell production. For example, during a battle, you might get injured, so stress activates these cells. But chronic stress is different—it doesn’t lead to healing or infection."
Dr. Lynn Hedrick from the La Jolla Institute in California believes this discovery could lead to new treatments for heart disease. He said, "This shows the β3 receptor plays a key role in stress-induced immune responses. Developing drugs targeting this receptor could have major clinical benefits."
Colored Pencils,Hb Pencil,Pencil Sharpeners,Pencil Case
NINGBO MACEY EDUCATION PRODUCT CO.,LTD , https://www.maceycreative.com