The narcissist stresses us chronically, deeply. I post this study not to scare people, but to warn them. Information such as this can be empowering. We are not here to give up our lives to abuse. We do not feed ourselves poison, yet that is what we do when we let the narcissist harm us. We have to see this behavior for what it is: a toxic stew from a damaged being. Understand that and begin to heal.

Heart-Felt Stress Can Be
Dangerous To Immune System
 
Source: Center For The Advancement Of Health  http://www.cfah.org/

                           People who react to stress more in the heart than in the vascular
                           system are more likely to suffer immune system problems, according
                           to a new study.

                           Public speaking and similar stress-inducing situations stimulate a
                           physical reaction in two ways: The heart pumps harder and the blood
                           vessels stiffen, leading to a rise in blood pressure. In some people the
                           rise is mainly due to the increase in heart output, while in others it's
                           due to the increased resistance to blood flow in the vessels.

                           Previous studies have shown that psychological stress acutely affects
                           the immune system and that chronic stress can lead to a diminished
                           capacity to fight off illness.

                           Cardiac reactors, as the heart-pumping contingent are known, showed
                           changes in measures of immune system activity that were not seen in
                           the vascular reactors, says Noha H. Farag, M.D., of the University of
                           California, San Diego, in research published in the August issue of
                           Brain, Behavior and Immunity.

                           "These findings suggest that cardiac reactors have a greater
                           immunologic response to stress," the researchers say.

                           This response was seen in the redistribution of lymphocytes, a type of
                           white blood cell that is a component of the fight-or-flight system and
                           may effect how quickly the immune system can react to new
                           challenges, they say. Such reactions may play a role in inflammatory
                           diseases and heart attack.

                           The study included 56 healthy men and women who were monitored
                           before and after giving two speeches based on stressful scenarios:
                           being accused of shoplifting and confronting a car dealer who failed
                           to honor a warranty. Blood samples were also taken to assess the
                           immune system measures, such as lymphocyte redistribution.

                           "Cardiac and vascular reactors can be differentiated on the basis of
                           immunological changes. Interestingly, it is only cardiac responders
                           that show a significant redistribution of lymphocytes in response to
                           stress," Farag says.

                           The study was funded with grants from the National Institute on Aging
                           and the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute.