3. You’re catching colds more often
Normally, with proper sleep, rest and relaxation, your body is equipped with the necessary anti-inflammatory defenses to fend off illness. However, when you are chronically stressed, your immune cells become more insensitive to cortisol, promoting the development of disease. “Having chronic inflammation from stress affects your ability to fight off infections and heal from them,” Kaiser says.
A study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS) suggests that when you’re under a lot of stress, you’re vulnerable to developing a cold. Stress can also affect your body’s ability to fight a cold once it comes on.
