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Episode 3404:
Dr. Neal Malik answers the question of whether chronic psychological stress can contribute to autoimmune diseases like rheumatoid arthritis. Drawing from decades of research and real-world examples, he explains how stress may affect the immune system and shares evidence-based lifestyle strategies that could help reduce symptoms and support long-term health.
Quotes to ponder:
“Long-term stress can also make the immune system hyperactive.”
“When the body’s immune system starts to attack its own healthy cells, we now call this a kind of autoimmune disease.”
“Based on the evidence so far, a separate group of researchers have gone so far as to declare rheumatoid arthritis as a stress-related illness.”
Episode references:
Arthritis Foundation – Rheumatoid Arthritis: https://www.arthritis.org/diseases/rheumatoid-arthritis
National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases – Rheumatoid Arthritis: https://www.niams.nih.gov/health-topics/rheumatoid-arthritis
Omega-3 Fatty Acids Fact Sheet – National Institutes of Health: https://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/Omega3FattyAcids-Consumer/
Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation: https://www.crohnscolitisfoundation.org/
Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA): https://jamanetwork.com/
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[00:01:00] It's another Q&A edition of Optimal Health Daily. It's another Q&A edition of Optimal Health Daily. And I'm Dr. Neal Malik. Hey there, happy Friday and welcome to another Q&A edition of Optimal Health Daily, where I answer your health questions related to fitness, diet and nutrition, and lots more. You send in the questions and I answer them for you. Now, if you do send in a question, we'll physically mail you a copy of our hardcover workbook as long as you're in the U.S. and as long as we have some left.
[00:01:27] But if you're outside of the U.S., we'll email you a digital version. Now, I'll tell you how to send in a question at the end of the show. But for now, let's hear today's question as we optimize your life. Today's question came via email. Jamie writes,
[00:02:02] Thank you for taking the time to send in your question, Jamie. There does seem to be a connection between the psychological stress we experience and disease risk. Now, of course, we know there are different types of diseases and conditions.
[00:02:30] For example, some are caused by bacteria or viruses. Other conditions can be triggered by lifestyle behaviors like smoking, excess alcohol consumption, a sedentary lifestyle, and a diet high in ultra-processed foods. It turns out, when we experience high levels of psychological stress, like having to care for a loved one that's experiencing a critical illness and having to work multiple jobs at the same time, it can increase our disease risk too.
[00:03:00] It turns out that psychological stressors like these change our body's immune system. When we're under this kind of stress for a long time, we find that the immune system may respond in a number of ways. Often, it will become weaker and make us more susceptible to bacterial and viral infections. But long-term stress can also make the immune system hyperactive.
[00:03:24] Hyperactive means that the immune system starts to attack not just potentially harmful substances, but our body's own healthy cells too. When the body's immune system starts to attack its own healthy cells, we now call this a kind of autoimmune disease. Now, no one's really sure why, but in response to stress, sometimes the immune system becomes weaker. And then, in other cases, it becomes hyperactive. And again, we really don't know why this happens.
[00:03:55] Some believe it has to do with our genetics. Others believe it's something we're exposed to in the environment. At this time, we don't really know for sure. But many believe it may be a combination of genetics, the stress we experience, and whether we're able to cope effectively with that stress. This is often referred to as the biopsychosocial model of autoimmune diseases. What we do know is that there are different kinds of autoimmune diseases,
[00:04:22] depending on which healthy cells are being attacked. For example, if healthy cells in the pancreas are being attacked, it often leads to type 1 diabetes. If healthy cells in the intestine are being attacked, it may lead to conditions like Crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis. If healthy cells in the body's joints are attacked, then it can lead to rheumatoid arthritis. Symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis include painful swollen joints, and over time, this can lead to destruction of the joints,
[00:04:51] and even other areas of the body like the skin, our lungs, and the heart can become affected. Even though most autoimmune conditions are incurable, there are often medications that can help reduce symptoms and prevent the disease from getting worse. Now, back to your original question, Jamie. Beyond just this theory, is there any scientific basis to all of this?
[00:05:16] Yes, there are some high-quality studies that have found this link between psychological stress and an autoimmune disease diagnosis. One of these studies was published in the Journal of the American Medical Association, one of the most respected journals because it publishes only higher-quality research. This particular study followed about 200,000 people over the course of 32 years. They found that those that experienced high levels of psychological stress
[00:05:44] were more likely to develop an autoimmune disease. Another smaller study also found that psychological stress led to an increased risk of developing rheumatoid arthritis specifically. Based on the evidence so far, a separate group of researchers have gone so far as to declare rheumatoid arthritis a stress-related illness. So, let's go back to this idea of how to prevent rheumatoid arthritis from getting worse over time and managing it with lifestyle.
[00:06:14] Since psychological stress is often a trigger, finding ways to cope with stress will probably help. Here, it's best to start by speaking to a healthcare professional so they can discuss these options with you. Next, we want to try and prevent the immune system from being hyperactive. This is where a diet made up of mostly whole foods like fruits, vegetables, and whole grains can help. Also, consuming enough omega-3 fatty acids or possibly supplementing with them may help.
[00:06:44] Specifically, aiming for about 2.6 grams per day of combined EPA and DHA may help. EPA and DHA are just subtypes of omega-3 fats. Now, since omega-3 fats can act as a blood thinner and interact with other medications, it's best to talk to a healthcare professional before supplementing. And lastly, participating in regular exercise also helps just so long as that exercise doesn't make your symptoms worse.
[00:07:14] Again, I'm sending you and your family condolences, Jamie, and I wish you all the best. If you're a small business, the right hire can be make or break. Hoping the right people see your job posting isn't the best growth strategy. When the pressure's on and you need the right hire, this is a job for sponsored jobs. Join the 3.3 million employers worldwide that use Indeed to connect with quality talent that fits their needs. Spend less time searching
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[00:08:12] and support our show by saying you heard about Indeed on this podcast. Indeed.com slash podcast. Terms and conditions apply. Need to hire? This is a job for Indeed sponsored jobs. If you've ever blasted synth beats from your boombox or burn CDs for your besties, this one's for you. As people get older, much like their music tastes, their health needs change. AG1 is the simple daily health drink
[00:08:39] designed to deliver over 75 essential daily nutrients and pre and probiotics to support energy, digestion, and mood. So you can make the most out of every decade and dance break. Learn more at drinkag1.com. And of course, thank you for taking the time to send in your question. Answering your questions is my favorite part of the show. And if you want to send in a question, remember, you'll get a physical copy of our workbook mailed to you if you're in the US
[00:09:08] and as long as we still have some available. You can email your question to health at oldpodcast.com or if you want your voice played on the show, come by oldpodcast.com slash ask. You can record your question straight from your computer's microphone. You can even play back your message and do retakes before sending it in. Or you can call in your question. The number is 161-ILOVE-OHD.
[00:09:36] That's 1614-568-3643. Thank you again for taking the time to send in your questions. But that'll do it for another Q&A edition of Optimal Health Daily. Thank you for listening every day and all the way through. And I hope you have a great start to your weekend. And I'll see you back here tomorrow where optimal life awaits.