with wire reports

Most people are already aware that stress affects mental well-being, but new research suggests it can also affect our physical health.

A research team at the University of Wisconsin-Madison recently published a study linking negative emotions to difficulty in fighting diseases such as the flu or common colds.

Led by Richard Davidson, a psychology professor at Wisconsin, the research team recorded the brain activity of 52 adult volunteers as they wrote about the best and worst times of their lives.

The team gave the volunteers flu shots afterward and tested them two weeks, four weeks and six months later to determine their reactions to the shots. Volunteers who focused on negative life experiences showed greater activity in the right prefrontal brain, which is linked to depression and stronger emotional response. These volunteers had lower amounts of flu antibodies in their blood, indicating a weaker response by their immune systems.

"I certainly think that's a reasonable assumption that stress and depression would have an impact on someone's physical well-being," said Dennis Cockrum, research development supervisor at Provena Behavioral Health, 202 W. Park Ave., Champaign.

Cockrum said the center educates people about how to care for their physical health and makes referrals when necessary.

"Some of our programs do provide a wellness focus that looks at the whole well-being of a person, not only the mental health side," Cockrum said.

Students who need to relieve stress can visit the University's Wellness Promotion Unit at McKinley Health Center.

Jennifer Carson, a McKinley wellness promotion specialist and stress management coordinator, said she offers individual consultations for students who are trying to relieve stress or who feel overwhelmed.

"We all want to manage our stress," Carson said. "The key is being able to find the balance of maintaining a manageable stress level."

The center has a relaxation room where students can receive scheduled massages or just sit and read relaxation books and listen to calming music. The goal is to create as relaxed an atmosphere as possible, Carson said.

"Our overall well-being is greatly affected when our stress level rises," Carson said. "We tend not to take care of ourselves as well when we are stressed."

The center also offers outreach programs, education pamphlets and a community health class at the University.

Carson said she recommends people take personal time-outs when they find themselves in stressful situations, which will help calm the body as well as the mind.

Abby Meyers, massage therapist at the Mettler Center, 616 E. Green St., Champaign, agreed that taking a daily time-out to reflect and relax helps relieve stress. She said she recommends exercising, planning ahead and getting plenty of sleep to reduce stress.

"There's definitely something to [the research study]," Meyers said. "Stress wears out your body and runs you down — just look at students during finals time."