Nightmares prove beneficial: researchers have discovered how the feeling of fear can strengthen our health.

A new study from Aarhus University in Denmark has revealed a connection between fear-inducing phenomena and the immune system. It turns out that horror movies and haunted houses not only turn our nerves, imagination, and heart rate upside down but also impact the very system that protects us from various diseases, as reported by ScienceAlert.

The research, published in the journal Brain, Behavior, and Immunity, involved 22 individuals with low inflammation levels who spent about 50 minutes in haunted houses, encountering frightening entities like creepy clowns, zombies, and actors wielding chainsaws. Analysis conducted after the experience showed a significant reduction in inflammation markers in over 80% of participants, with nearly half returning to normal levels.

A larger trial involving 91 volunteers, who were not screened for inflammation, also demonstrated significant changes in immunity after visiting such locations. Experiences in haunted houses, similar to other fear-inducing but controlled activities like roller coasters, triggered a physiological response comparable to the well-documented "runner's high," characterized by a surge of adrenaline and endorphins.

However, the physiological effects of such fear, particularly its impact on immune function, have remained less studied. Researchers aimed to fill this gap, hoping their findings could hint at a deeper structural connection between emotional states and inflammation control. Specifically, the study observed a decrease in immune cells, including lymphocytes and monocytes, known for their role in tumor suppression and pathogen defense.

The response varied among participants with pre-existing inflammation and those without, with the latter group showing a more significant decrease in white blood cells such as eosinophils and basophils. Researchers suggested that acute fear might mobilize the body's defense mechanisms similarly to stress responses triggered by cold exposure, although the precise mechanisms of these processes are still under investigation. The study aligns with previous animal experiments that indicated stress and fear could activate the adrenergic system responsible for the "fight or flight" response, potentially preparing the immune system for possible injury or infection.

Studies conducted on humans link this response to the anti-inflammatory effects of cold exposure; however, the role of fear in initiating these processes requires further confirmation. Participants reported a consistently moderate or high level of fear during their visit to the haunted house, reflected in an average heart rate of 112 beats per minute. This physiological activity, which persisted for nearly an hour, is similar to activities like cold immersion, which have the potential to control unstable inflammation. The team from Aarhus University advocates for more research to understand the involvement of the adrenergic system and the longevity of these effects, which could potentially broaden the applications of recreational fear as a health benefit.

Could visiting a haunted house or other forms of recreational fear be integrated into health strategies aimed at combating inflammation or enhancing immune response? Scientists still need more thorough investigations to answer this definitively, but this opens the door to an unconventional and quite unusual approach to health enhancement.

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