Scientists from Johns Hopkins University have found that the work of the immune system of pregnant women is impaired by high levels of anxiety. Research published in the journal Brain, Behavior and Immunity.
They analyzed data from 107 pregnant women, 56 of whom were anxious and 51 were carefree. They found that in women with anxiety, T-cell levels rose during pregnancy and fell within a few weeks of giving birth. In women without anxiety, the activity of these cells decreased during pregnancy and continued to decline after delivery.
T cells attack infected or suspicious cells in the body. The researchers also noticed that the activity of cytokines, substances that increase inflammation, is suppressed in anxious women during pregnancy and then increased after delivery. The opposite pattern was observed in healthy women.
During pregnancy, a woman’s immune system must be balanced by changing in such a way that it does not reject the fetus while remaining strong enough to fight infections. Observations of scientists indicate that the immune system of an anxious pregnant woman is seriously violated. This can lead to preterm birth and a lower birth weight of the newborn. However, women often refuse sedatives for fear that the drugs will harm the baby, despite evidence that the drugs are compatible with pregnancy.