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Episode 3404:

Dr. Neal Malik answers the question of whether chronic psychological stress can contribute to autoimmune diseases like rheumatoid arthritis. Drawing from decades of research and real-world examples, he explains how stress may affect the immune system and shares evidence-based lifestyle strategies that could help reduce symptoms and support long-term health.

Quotes to ponder:

“Long-term stress can also make the immune system hyperactive.”

“When the body’s immune system starts to attack its own healthy cells, we now call this a kind of autoimmune disease.”

“Based on the evidence so far, a separate group of researchers have gone so far as to declare rheumatoid arthritis as a stress-related illness.”

Episode references:

Arthritis Foundation – Rheumatoid Arthritis: https://www.arthritis.org/diseases/rheumatoid-arthritis

National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases – Rheumatoid Arthritis: https://www.niams.nih.gov/health-topics/rheumatoid-arthritis

Omega-3 Fatty Acids Fact Sheet – National Institutes of Health: https://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/Omega3FattyAcids-Consumer/

Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation: https://www.crohnscolitisfoundation.org/

Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA): https://jamanetwork.com/

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