London: Researchers have warned of the negative health effects of chronic stress, linking it to the spread of cancer, heart disease and increased risk of stroke.

Scientists say that while it is common to experience temporary stress in daily life, long-term, sustained stress can have a major impact on health and can lead to serious health complications. there is.

Several studies have highlighted the association between chronic stress and cardiovascular disease. A 2017 study published in The Lancet found a correlation between stress and the development of cardiovascular disease, and another study in 2022 found that major stressful life events are associated with increased risk of first stroke. It was found that it could increase the amount by 17%.

Although there is no direct evidence linking stress and cancer risk, researchers believe that stress may indirectly improve health by interfering with healthy behaviors and worsening risk factors associated with cancer. We warn you that it may affect you.

Relationship between chronic stress and cancer spread

Now, groundbreaking research has revealed the complex relationship between stress and cancer progression. Scientists at Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory (CSHL) have uncovered a mechanism by which stress promotes cancer metastasis, the spread of cancer cells from their original site to other parts of the body.

The study, led by former postdoctoral researcher Xue-Yan He and adjunct professor Mikala Egeblad, focused on the role of white blood cells called neutrophils in cancers that spread under conditions of chronic stress. Researchers found that stress causes neutrophils to form sticky mesh structures known as neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs).

These NETs create a favorable environment for cancer metastasis, making body tissues more susceptible to the spread of cancer cells. The study, conducted in mice, found that mice exposed to chronic stress had a significant increase in metastatic lesions compared to mice that were not exposed to stress.

Dr. He emphasized the importance of understanding how stress affects cancer patients and the development of new treatment strategies to combat the spread of cancer in the presence of chronic stress. emphasized the need.