A Happy Marriage Helps Beat Flu

Whatever the likelihood of an outbreak of avian flu this winter, the more familiar 'flu is a regular visitor among the British population at this time of year, responsible for anywhere between 200 and 30,000 deaths annually, and the health authorities continues to stress the importance of the flu jab for the over 65's.

Researchers at the University of Birmingham have completed a study into whether psychological factors have an impact on people's immune response to the flu vaccine, which gives a strong indication of how well their immune system will protect them from 'flu itself.

Carried out by the University of Birmingham's School of Sport and Exercise Sciences the study measured the antibody response to the flu vaccine through taking blood samples from 184 people over the age of 65.

They also completed a questionnaire to see whether there was a correlation between immune response and people's psychological state. There were two clear findings: people who had experienced a bereavement in the previous year showed a low immune response, and people who described themselves as happily married showed a high level of immune response, meaning that they were better equipped to fight flu.