Professor Cohen said: “In our work, we intentionally exposed people to cold and influenza viruses and studied whether psychological and social factors predict how effective the immune system is in suppressing infection, or preventing or mitigating the severity of illness.”
In a series of studies, Professor Cohen found participants experiencing “interpersonal stressors” had a greater chance of developing an upper respiratory illness when exposed to cold viruses.
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He believes the interpersonal stressors may play a similar role in response to COVID-19, increasing a person’s risk of infection and illness.
What to do if you think you have coronavirus symptoms
If you have any of the main symptoms of coronavirus, the NHS advises you:
- Stay at home (self-isolate) – do not leave your home or have visitors. Anyone you live with, and anyone in your support bubble, must also self-isolate.
- Get a test – get a test to check if you have coronavirus as soon as possible. Anyone you live with, and anyone in your support bubble, should also get a test if they have symptoms.
Source: Daily Express
