REAL LIFE NEWS: SMILE WHILE YOU GET YOUR FLU JAB
by Hazed
I got my annual flu vaccination a few weeks ago. It left me with a sore arm and a slight feeling of lethargy and achiness, but if it protects me against catching flu it will be well worth it.
The trouble is that while the flu jab is usually effective in 70-90% of young people, its effectiveness plummets when you get old – it’s estimated to work in only 17-53% of older adults. Since I fall into that category, anything that can help to increase its ability to protect me is welcome.
Which is why this study is so interesting. A team from the University of Nottingham has found evidence that if you are in a positive mood when you get your flu jab, it’s going to have a greater protective effect.
The researchers wanted to understand which psychological or behavioural factor, or combination of factors, has the greatest impact on vaccinations’ ability to protect against disease. They studied a group of 138 older people over a six week period, measuring negative or positive mood, physical activity, diet and sleep three times a week. All of them were due to get their flu jab.
Once they had been vaccinated, the scientists examined how well they were protected, by measuring the amount of influenza antibody in the blood at 4 and then 16 weeks afterwards.
The results showed that of the factors examined, the only thing that made a difference was having a positive mood. Being in a good mood over a period of time was associated with higher levels of antibody, and if they were feeling cheerful on the day of the vaccination the effect was even greater.
Not such good news for people who hate getting vaccinations and find them really stressful! But good news for me, because I am not scared of needles, and I am usually cheerful.
Source: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2017/09/170925154701.htm
