Look At Sick People To Give Your Immune System a Boost

Scientists at the University of British Columbia have found that looking at someone who appears sick boosts your immune system. Subjects had blood taken before and after watching a 10-minute slide show that contained disturbing images including people who appeared sick. Results of the blood tests showed people who had seen the sick people had a stronger immune system. From the article: "In the study, young adults were asked to watch a 10-minute slide show containing a series of unpleasant photographs. Some pictures included people who looked obviously ill in some way. The subjects' blood samples were then tested for levels of interleukin-6 (IL-6), a substance produced by the immune system that indicates your immune system is ramping up to more aggressively fight infection. As a control, pictures of people brandishing guns were also used on some participants—and they barely resulted in a significant increase in IL-6 production, signifying that IL-6 production is not simply a reaction to stress."

Comments

Re:Why do photos of guns cause stress?

[Lunix Nutcase]

Really?

Are you really asking this? Yes, guns are for maiming and killing people. This is the whole point of how they are a deterrent to people who would want to harm you. If they weren't for such a purpose exactly what is the point of carrying one around?

Re:Alternate interpretation

[X0563511]

Erm... there's a significant increase. Only barely, but still significant.

Was that so hard? You read the words, and you understand what they mean.