Want to avoid colds? Then beef up your social life.A study done at Rice University shows that when people feel lonely, they are more likely to get colds, and the symptoms will be more serious, News Radio 1200 WOAI reports.
Researcher Angie LeRoy told News Radio 1200 WOAI's Michael Board that her study showed a clear connection between loneliness, and the impact of cold germs on the body."The purpose behind doing this type of research is to heighten people's awareness of the power of the mind-body connection," she said.
LeRoy and her team gave a group of people 'cold inducing nasal drops' and then locked them in hotel rooms for five days.
Those who had indicated in advance screenings that they has a 'high level of loneliness' had clearly more serious symptoms.
"We found that people who were feeling more lonely actually perceived their cold symptoms to be worse," she said. "That was regardless of the number of people in their social network."
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