Merry Sickness!

Are you’re bound to get sick for the holidays – or on vacation?

It’s not just bad luck – there are reasons we’re more likely to get sick for a holiday or on vacation. The main culprit is stress. We push ourselves leading up to a holiday or vacation – which raises hormones and lowers immunity. It takes about 48 to 72 hours for a virus to take hold – which explains why it seems to flare up as soon as you’re done running around.

In this final stretch – it’s important to get plenty of sleep, drink lots of water, and keep washing those hands. If someone’s not feeling well – DON’T hug or kiss them. It’s also a really good idea to open a window – in your house and in your car. Get some fresh air circulating - that burst of cold will be a lot more tolerable than feeling crummy for a week.

Source: Dr. Robert Hasty, Nova Southeastern University