Can stress make you sick?
The short answer is: sort of.
When you’re stressed, your body releases a hormone called cortisol.
Cortisol helps regulate inflammation and, in normal amounts, is actually consideredanti-inflammatory1.
And the greater the inflammatory response, the sicker you feel.
To test this theory, Cohen exposed 276 healthy adults to a virus that causes the common cold.
8 ways stress can cause physical symptoms.
While that’s a big problem, it’s not the only problem associated with stress.
Muscle pain
In addition to headaches, tense muscles can lead to widespread muscle pain.
Trouble sleeping
When it comes to sleep, stress is a double-edged sword.
But chronic stress can cause fatigue that’s not alleviated by rest or sleep.
One study found that a high level of stress can lead to"unexplained" fatigue4.
This bang out of stress fatigue can also lead to impaired performance and function throughout the day.
Translation: It’s harder to get basic tasks done and/or focus on your work.
“These nerves respond to the same stress hormones and neurotransmitters that our brains do.”
Sweating
When you’re stressed, the brainreleases a neurotransmitter called acetylcholine6(ACh).
How to support mental & physical health.
Stress is an unavoidable part of life.
