A large-scale 2018 study examined over 100,000 individuals in Sweden with stress-related disorders such as PTSD and acute stress reaction. Researchers compared their health outcomes to matched siblings and to the general population. The finding: people with stress-related disorders had a 36% higher rate of developing autoimmune diseases.
The connection between psychological stress and immune dysfunction has long been theorized but this study provided population-level evidence. Chronic stress appears to dysregulate the immune system, causing it to attack the body’s own tissues. The link was strongest in the first year after a stress disorder diagnosis.
This has direct relevance for yoga practitioners. Practices that reduce the physiological stress response, including asana, pranayama, and meditation, may be doing more than improving quality of life. They may be reducing the risk of immune system dysfunction at a fundamental level.
Source: Yoga Research: Immunity & General Health on ashtanga.tech. Original research.