Our stress liability

We don't need Chinese medicine to correlate stress with problems of immunity.

Stress hormones change our immune system by influencing our genes.

During periods of low stress, genes that promote viral immunity are turned on. The body assumes we must be safe amongst members of our tribe. Safe except for viruses, that is.

During periods of sustained stress, genes that promote viral immunity are turned off in order to prioritize genes that promote mechanisms that fight bacteria in wounds. The body assumes, since we're feeling so stressed, we must be off on our own in the bush, where risk of bodily injury is high.

It might still be a useful system, if we weren't so always stressed.

It's been a tough flu season in the first world.