A study published in the journal Frontiers in Immunology last Tuesday (9/12) drew attention to a little-discussed link between mental health and immunity.
Researchers at Taibah University in Saudi Arabia observed that symptoms of anxiety and insomnia – common among young people – may be associated with a reduction in natural killer (NK) cells, essential on the front line of the immune system.
This finding reinforces that emotional problems are not limited to the psychological realm: they can also impact the body’s ability to protect itself against infections.
The survey included 60 university students aged 17 to 23, who responded to standardized questionnaires on anxiety and sleep quality.
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Anxiety levels were assessed using the GAD-7 test, a tool widely used in research and clinical screening. Then, they all had a blood sample taken to measure the quantity and proportion of NK cells by flow cytometry, a method that allows the precise analysis of defense cells present in the circulation.
Results revealed that approximately 75% of participants reported symptoms consistent with anxiety and just over half showed signs of sleep disturbance.
Comparing laboratory data, the scientists observed that anxious young women had both a lower proportion and absolute number of NK cells. The cells are responsible for identifying and destroying cells infected by viruses or with suspicious changes, functioning as a “first alarm” of natural immunity.
Among participants who reported insomnia, the researchers identified a similar pattern: the higher the anxiety level, the lower the number of NK cells in the samples.
Taken together, the findings suggest that persistent emotional symptoms may negatively influence immune surveillance, leaving the body less prepared to respond quickly to threats.
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Anxiety is a type of psychological condition characterized by constant and excessive worry that something negative may happen. According to researchers from the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ), it is also a diffuse feeling of discomfort caused by a frequent feeling of apprehension that can trigger disorders.
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According to the World Health Organization (WHO), Brazil is the most anxious country in the world and has recorded even more cases of this disease during the Covid-19 pandemic. Besides adults, anxiety can also manifest itself in children for various reasons, such as parental divorce, exams or school problems, for example.
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Although it is considered relatively common, as it can affect anyone for any reason, anxiety becomes a real problem when everything becomes a cause for exaggerated worry and the patient begins to experience attacks.
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An anxiety attack is a situation that causes a great feeling of anxiety, nervousness and insecurity, as if something very serious, completely uncontrollable, would happen at any moment.
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Crisis usually occurs due to specific stressful situations that generate triggers, such as having to give a presentation, having a short deadline to deliver work, being in a place you don’t want to be or having suffered a loss, for example.
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Symptoms of an anxiety attack include: rapid heart rate, feeling short of breath, tingling in the body, feeling of lightness in the head, chest pain, nausea, excessive sweating, tremors, among others.
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These symptoms are due to an increase in the hormone adrenaline in the blood, which is normal when a person faces an important moment. However, if symptoms become constant, they may signal generalized anxiety disorder.
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What you should do during an anxiety attack depends on the severity and frequency of the symptoms and, therefore, the ideal is to always receive specialist advice from a psychiatrist or psychologist.
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Despite this, doing breathing exercises, drinking soothing tea, trying to talk to someone you trust, resting, turning off your mind, doing physical activities that you enjoy or trying to keep your thoughts on something that comforts you are some tips that can help alleviate the problem.
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When the anxiety attack first occurs or you are unsure of what is happening, it is important to go to the hospital to make sure it is not another, more serious problem, such as a heart attack.
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In any case, if the attacks are frequent, you must call a specialist to identify the cause and begin treatment.
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Anxiety can trigger problems that, depending on the symptoms, can be classified as generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), social phobia, panic syndrome, among others. These problems can have an impact on the patient’s personal and professional life. So, the earlier they are diagnosed, the less problems they will face.
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Although the research raises an important warning, the authors themselves highlight its limitations. The sample is small and composed only of young women, which limits the generalizability of the results to men, older adults, or people with pre-existing health conditions.
Another limitation is that anxiety and insomnia were assessed using questionnaires – useful instruments, but not a substitute for clinical diagnoses or objective sleep examinations.
Additionally, the study is observational, meaning it cannot be said that anxiety or insomnia directly causes the decline in NK cells, only that there is an association.
Still, for experts, understanding the relationship between mental health and immunity is crucial, especially in a context where disorders such as anxiety and sleep problems have become more common among young people.
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