For years, researchers have thought that stress compromised the immune system, but Strauman et al discovered that if they could cause a negative self-evaluation in a subject, the killing ability of natural killer cells went down. Another experiement measured the mood of subjects and then exposed them to a cold virus. Those who reported feeling stressed out actually caught colds with greater frequency than those who felt pretty good about the world and themselves. The text discusses diminished natural killer cell activity in medical students taking exams. Glaser, who is shown in the video, is also cited in the text.
Heart attacks are number one and cancer is number two in cause of death with all ages averaged.
Even when we can prove a causal relationship, as in the case of lung cancer, people have a very hard time giving up the behaviors that are making them sick. Many people who do not have essential hypertension will give a high reading in the doctor's office. Recently, my father gave a blood pressure reading far above that of the hypertension cut-off. He told them that he was furious for being made to sit there for over an hour. He promised to go home, use his own machine, and call them back.