Days are not far when doctors would say that stress is good for health. A recent study conducted by the researchers of Stanford University claims that stress can boost the activity of immune system.

The lead author of the study, Firdaus Dhabhar, was reported saying, “We believe the brain, through the release of stress hormones, is preparing the immune system to deal with those challenges”. It is for the very first time when stress has been linked to healthy immune system.

For the study, the researchers examined rats. The rats were put under stressful environment for a small period. After two hours of the exposure to the stressful situation, the researchers took blood samples of the rats to measure the stress hormones and the working of the immune system.

It was found that under stress, the bodies of rats emitted three types of stress hormones called norepinephrine, epinephrine and cortisol. This particular hormone cycle worked intelligently to promote healthy working of the immune system. The findings of the study have been published in the Journal of Psychoneuroendocrinology. Further studies would be conducted to gauge whether or not the same phenomena works for humans.