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Childhood Stress Compromises Immune System
Stressful experiences can have a long-lasting impact on children’s health, U.S. researchers report.
They evaluated the immune systems of teens who’d experienced either typical or extremely stressful childhoods, such as physical abuse or time in an orphanage. Specifically, the researchers looked at levels of antibodies against the common and usually latent herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1).
The virus, found in about two-thirds of Americans, can cause cold sores and fever blisters. People with a healthy immune system can keep this virus under control and only develop symptoms when their immune system is compromised by stress or illness. But people with a weakened immune system may have trouble suppressing HSV-1 and produce antibodies against the activated virus.CLICK HERE TO READ MORE
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