Pain and stress associated with getting a root canal can lead to short term changes in immune function and may lead to cold symptoms later on, according to researchers from the University of Florida and the University of Iowa and reported in the Journal of Psychosomatic Medicine (May, 2001). According to the article, those who reported having a lot of pain and stress were more likely to become sick that those who claimed to have only a little pain and stress. It is reasonable to expect that other stressful procedures may hamper immune function.

Researchers believe that there needs to be further studies, but stress reduction like relaxation, guided imagery, and hypnosis may help with the pain of stressful procedures like root canal, and the ensuing challenge to the immune system.