Can you get sick from stress?

As a health professional, I can confirm that stress can indeed have a significant impact on your overall health, including your susceptibility to illness. When you're stressed, your body releases stress hormones like cortisol, which can suppress the immune system. A weakened immune system is less effective at fighting off infections and illnesses, making you more prone to getting sick. Stress can manifest in physical symptoms such as headaches, muscle tension, and fatigue, which can also lower your resistance to disease. Additionally, stress can lead to behaviors that increase the risk of illness, such as poor sleep, unhealthy eating, and a lack of exercise, all of which can further compromise your immune system. In the context provided, Dr. Levine's statement highlights the connection between stress and the onset of illnesses like colds or the activation of viruses like cold sores, which can occur when the immune system is unable to keep them in check. To summarize, while stress doesn't directly cause sickness, it can indirectly increase your risk by weakening your immune system and potentially leading to unhealthy lifestyle choices.

Stress suppresses the immune system, which makes it easier for you to get sick and harder to fight off bugs. "When people are stressed, they get sick. It could be a cold or cold sores, which pop up because the immune system can't suppress the virus," says Dr. Levine.