A Medscape article titled "Worry and Worry Are Linked to Increased Inflammation" explores the relationship between worry, anxiety, and fluctuating levels of inflammatory markers in the body. Researchers at Ohio State University College of Medicine in Columbus found that increases in levels of the inflammatory cytokines interleukin-6 (IL-6) and interferon-gamma (IFN-γ) corresponded with increases in anxiety levels.
"Worry has clear physiological effects. It essentially creates wear and tear on the body, which can have consequences for physical health over time ," says researcher Megan Elizabeth Renna, Ph.D.
“Additionally, stress significantly impacts the immune system, but very few studies have looked at exactly how anxiety affects inflammation,” adds Renna.
The study included 85 healthy adults who were subjected to a single experimental anxiety condition. The results showed that blood samples collected in three consecutive draws showed significant changes in the levels of the inflammatory cytokines IL-6 and IFN-γ.
“Essentially, high levels of inflammatory markers such as IFN may be associated with a variety of chronic diseases over time,” says Renna.
“In addition, high levels of IL-6 are usually a bad sign and can be a marker of disease or poor health,” she adds.
Interestingly, IL-6 levels did not change significantly from baseline in the anxious state, but levels increased significantly as participants moved from anxiety to relaxation and continued to increase throughout the relaxation period.
