Parents of children with autism more likely to get common ailments

Parents of children with autism more likely to get common ailments:

"ScienceDaily (Apr. 2, 2012) — Parents of children with autism are more likely to get common ailments such as colds, coughs and headaches as a direct result of the increased stresses linked to their caring duties, according to research from Northumbria University" 

The research is published in the journal Psychoneuroendocrinology, this April which is also National Autism month. 

In the first study to look at the physical and psychological well-being of these carers, psychologists Dr Mark Wetherell, Dr Mark Moss and PhD researcher Brian Lovell also discovered higher levels of C-reactive protein in the carers, a marker of inflammation that is linked to increased risk of developing coronary heart disease and diabetes. 

Dr Wetherell said: "Parents of children with autism face tremendous physical, financial, emotional and social pressures and these can lead to prolonged activation of stress responses which might place them at greater risk of adverse health

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