3404: Does Stress Contribute to Autoimmune Disease? The Mind-Body Connection on Health And Stress

Optimal Health Daily - Fitness and Nutrition

Optimal Living Daily LLC

Fitness, Nutrition, Health & Fitness

4.5 • 677 Ratings

🗓️ 22 May 2026

⏱️ 9 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

Discover all of the podcasts in our network, search for specific episodes, get the Optimal Living Daily workbook, and learn more at: OLDPodcast.com. 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/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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0:54.0	It's another Q&A edition of Optimal Health Daily, and I'm Dr.com slash team accounts.
0:58.4	It's another Q&A edition of Optimal Health Daily, and I'm Dr. Neil Malley.
1:03.6	Hey there, happy Friday, and welcome to another Q&A edition of Optimal Health Daily,
1:09.3	where I answer your health questions related to fitness, diet and nutrition, and lots more.
1:27.5	You send in the questions, and I answer them for you. Now, if you do send in a question, we'll physically mail you a copy of our hardcover workbook, as long as you're in the U.S., and as long as we have some left. But if you're outside of the U.S., we'll email you a digital version. Now, I'll tell you how to send in a question at the end of the show,
1:31.7	but for now, let's hear today's question as we optimize your life.
1:38.9	Today's question came via email. Jamie writes,
1:45.2	I developed severe rheumatoid arthritis while working two jobs and caring for my mom as she was dying of breast cancer. There's lots of anecdotal talk about stress contributing to autoimmune
1:51.1	disease. Is there any quality research that examines this connection? Thank you for all you do.
1:57.9	Thank you for taking the time to send in your question, Jamie. And I'm so sorry to hear
2:02.2	about your mom. I'm sending you and your family my condolences. I'm also sorry to hear about your
2:07.2	rheumatoid arthritis diagnosis. It sounds like you've been going through a lot, and I hope I can help.
	...

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