A new study shows that stress can weaken natural killer cells in young women.
Curator’s Note: A new study from Saudi Arabia reveals that stress, anxiety, and insufficient sleep can significantly weaken natural killer (NK) cells in young women aged 17-23. The research shows that 75% of participants experienced anxiety and nearly half suffered from insomnia, resulting in reduced NK cell activity—about 11% in severely stressed individuals compared to 38% in those without stress. High cortisol levels from prolonged stress contribute to lower immunity, increasing the risk of inflammation or cancer. The findings emphasize the need for better stress management, physical activity, and sleep hygiene to enhance immune health among college women facing academic pressures.
Written by Dr Khalid Rahman
It’s time to stop ignoring those sleepless nights.
If you are a young woman in college, trying to manage your to-do list, friendships, and classes, you might find your mind often feels worried and rushed.
When sleep is hard to come by, mornings often start with exhaustion. Lack of sleep can also make your mind race with unwanted thoughts.
But it’s not just about feeling tired. When you lose sleep, your body slowly becomes less able to fight off germs.
A recent groundbreaking study conducted in Saudi Arabia has revealed shocking connections between anxiety, insufficient sleep, and weaker immune cells called natural killer (NK) cells.
The 60 healthy female participants in this study were aged 17-23 years. Nearly 75% of the study participants experienced anxiety, and almost half of them were fighting with insomnia (or trouble sleeping).
The study found that women with higher anxiety had fewer NK cells. In severe cases, NK cells dropped to about 11%, compared to 38% in those without stress from anxiety or insomnia.
Insomnia and anxiety have become common problems for young women in recent years.
This research suggests that stress from anxiety and insomnia can greatly increase the risk of inflammation or cancer in young women.
But there are ways to address this health challenge. Learning from this research is the first step toward taking preventive action.
A closer look at the study
Researchers from Taibah University in Madinah studied 60 healthy young women after getting their consent.
None of the study participants had diabetes, high blood pressure, or asthma. The authors obtained ethics committee approval before initiating the study.
Each participant shared personal details like age, marital status, smoking habits, exercise, coffee intake, course information, year in school, and grades for the study.
Participants answered seven questions, and their scores were calculated using the GAD-7 anxiety assessment tool.
Similarly, eight questions addressed participants’ sleep quality. The respective scores were obtained through the SCI (sleep condition indicator) tool.
After conducting the survey, blood samples were obtained from each participant for analysis using procedures such as complete blood count and flow cytometry.
Cortisol, sleeplessness, and the hidden toll on immunity
NK cells are the body’s rapid-response defenders. They find virus-infected and abnormal cells before the rest of the immune system reacts.
Stress changes things by triggering the release of cortisol, the ‘fight-or-flight’ hormone from the adrenal glands.
If cortisol stays high for a long time, the immune system slows down. This leads to fewer NK cells and a weaker defense against illness.
Studies show that people with long-term stress, such as those with tinnitus or depression, often have lower NK cell activity. Cancer patients who feel anxious tend to have high cortisol, less active NK cells, and more inflammation.
Poor sleep makes things worse. Insomnia increases systemic inflammation and weakens your primary defenders, including NK cells and monocytes.
This helps explain why anxiety is connected to a higher probability of heart disease, stroke, or cancer.
Among Saudi female students, this combination was especially worrying. Anxiety rates increased, women were most affected, and nearly 40% reported significant insomnia.
This is the first study to explore this link in young Saudi women.
Although the sample was small and focused on a single age group, the results indicate a need for further research on cortisol, markers such as CRP, and comparisons across genders and ages.
The hidden effects of overwork, anxiety, and lost sleep.
When NK cell levels drop, the body’s defenses weaken. This makes it easier for viruses to enter, infections to last longer, and cancer cells to grow.
Low NK cell activity is linked to a higher risk of cancer and poorer overall health.
The heart is also at risk. Anxiety can double the chance of heart problems, and poor sleep increases the risk of cancer, mental fog, and heart strain.
For many multitasking college women stressed with the pressure of high grades, little exercise, and caffeine-heavy days, this situation was no less than a storm.
Research shows that physical activity is one of the best ways to boost NK cells.
With the right strategies, such as managing stress, staying active, and getting enough rest, the immune system can recover without a doubt.
Watch the complete, insightful podcast on this study by visiting this free link: https://youtu.be/Q0SxcXtxkOo?si=W8gX7kX3vfjU-Cxs
Reference source
Renad M. Alhamawi, Fatmah A. Halawani, Sima F. Hakeem, Hadeel A. Alslimi, Ebraheim M. Alhamawi, Ahmed M. Aljohani, Ibrahim N. Mohammed, Heba M. Zahid, Yahya A. Almutawif. Insomnia and anxiety: exploring their hidden effect on natural killer cells among young female adults. Frontiers in Immunology, 2025; 16 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2025.1698155
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Truly yours,
Dr. Khalid Rahman Health Scientist | Scholarly Communicator | Licensed Integrative Medicine Practitioner PhD (Clinical Research) | MSc (Bioinformatics) | MSc (Clinical Research & Regulatory Affairs) | Post Graduate Diploma in Computer Application | Bachelor of Unani Medicine & Surgery
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