“Today, the science of the mind-body connection, or psychoneuroimmunology, can explain how emotions are associated with physical changes in the body. Our perceptions — how we interpret events in our lives — change stress hormone levels of cortisol, epinephrine, and norepinephrine. Chronic fear, resentment, sorrow, and depression raise stress hormone levels. When these levels remain elevated, insulin increases and causes the release of inflammatory hormones known as cytokines and leukotrienes. This leads to inflammation at the cellular level, a state that is associated with obesity, diabetes, osteoporosis, cancer, and cardiovascular disease.” Excerpted from Get Well, Be Well, And Stay Well, July 2009
