7 Subtle Signs That You're Under Too Much Stress
A hair-trigger temper, scarfing down comfort foods, nights spent tossing and turning—all hard-to-miss signs that you've got too much on your plate. But what about these unexpected warning signs?
By Emma Haak
Photo: LaylaBird/Getty Images
4 of 7
All it takes is one stranger's sneeze and suddenly you're sick.
Why it could be stress: Your immunity takes a hit when you're stressed,
research shows, leaving you less capable of fending off whatever virus is making its way through your house or office. In one study, in
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, stressed-out people were twice as likely to get sick after being exposed to the common cold. The stressed folks also produced more pro-inflammatory compounds once the virus was in their systems, potentially making sniffles and sneezes worse.
Other possible causes: A consistent lack of sleep can also hamper your immune system. If you're sleeping well, not feeling stressed, but find that your sick-day tally keeps growing, ask your doctor whether a more serious issue could be to blame.
Published 08/25/2015
