Official News page 7

REAL LIFE NEWS: FAMILY CHRISTMAS IS BAD FOR YOUR HEALTH

by Hazed

Tis the season to be jolly, but family Christmases are rarely stress-free. Now biologists have conducted some research which says that they can cause serious health problems. I knew it!

Stress response in the nervous system is designed for very serious situations such as fighting off rival cavemen or fleeing ravenous saber-tooth tigers. But having it kick in when you have to deal with an annoying relative is overkill, and one of the results is that the immune system gets over stimulated, causing autoimmune disorders such as lupus, arthritis and eczema.

Research done on mice has confirmed that stress affects the nervous system, which in turn has a knock-on effect on the immune system.

So remember, as you grit your teeth and roll your eyes, feeling your blood pressure rising at having to deal with your nearest and not-so-dearest this Christmas, that letting the stress get to you could lead to early arthritis, or a nasty rash. Just chill out, and let it all wash over you. After all, it'll soon be over!

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