Katie Couric's Notebook: Immune System

By: Katie Couric
Topics: Katie Couric's Notebook

It's a natural tendency - someone nearby sneezes or blows his or her nose - and we run for cover. Whatever he has, we don't want it.

But it turns out that just seeing someone suffering like that might actually be good for our health.

Scientists from the University of British Columbia sat down with several groups of people. Each was shown a series of photographs. Some had to look at pictures of people who were obviously ill, coughing or with a runny nose or rash.

The researchers then compared before and after blood samples and found that looking at all those sick people made participants' immune systems kick into over-drive - protecting them from what their bodies saw as an imminent threat.

It's a reminder just how amazing the human body is. Even when we can't play defense as someone sneezes our way, Mother Nature may somehow be there quietly saying "God bless you."

That's a page from my notebook.

I'm Katie Couric, CBS News.

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by gonroku August 31, 2010 12:15 PM EDT: Your comment is very interesting. I pray your health will be in good condition by immune system.; Reply to this comment


by ahier August 31, 2010 11:59 AM EDT: The study is published in the report "Mere Visual Perception of Other People?s Disease Symptoms Facilitates a More Aggressive Immune Response". It is available here:

http://www2.psych.ubc.ca/~schaller/SchallerMillerGervaisYagerChen2010.pdf; Reply to this comment


by gonroku August 31, 2010 11:57 AM EDT: I am surprised at how human body has excellent immune system.Human body and nature are mystery even now.; Reply to this comment


by kenhamlett August 31, 2010 11:13 AM EDT: That is probably true. It is not a super germ that we need to be afraid of, it is the lack of the body to have enough exposure to know how to combat an invader and the resulting slow ability to manufacture defenses. For a prepared immune system, the sight of a sneeze could be enough to alert the immune system to prepare for an attack. So much for modern medicine. Our bodies are far ahead of science in its ability to take care of itself.

On a separate note, have you hard the latest. Chewing pine needles has a similar effect as Tamiflu (the wonder drug). If we look back to yesteryear we find that was old medicine before the test tube was invented and now it is back just packaged in plastic instead of fresh off the tree. The old ways still trump new science. BTW pine needles are good for a variety of ailments and no prescription is required!; Reply to this comment


by cktirumalai August 31, 2010 8:53 AM EDT: And it seeems to be true that children who have been protected from playing in the dirt grow up to have less immunity than those who were not so protected. Limited exposure to germs in the natural course of things strengthens the immune system.
Candadai Tirumalai; Reply to this comment