You're dying for a break, going through the previous few weeks of labor or class. You are finally able to chill out. And then the fatigue sets in, you are feeling a tickle in your throat, and also you realize you are getting sick.
Why does it all the time appear to occur on a vacation or weekend?
Some call it The let-down effect or The disease of leisure.
But is that this the reality? Although you might hear about leisure sickness online and anecdotally, studies on the phenomenon are very limited and infrequently not well designed.
So let's take a take a look at the evidence — and what you'll be able to do to remain healthy.
What the evidence shows
Leisure sickness is a term coined by Dutch researchers In a 2002 study. This refers to individuals who rarely get sick in the course of the work week but get sick relatively compleatly on weekends or holidays.
The researchers surveyed 1,893 people And got About 33% reported leisure sickness. Symptoms normally include headache, fatigue, cold and flu, muscle aches and nausea. People were more prone to develop infections on vacation than on weekends, and symptoms were most typical in the course of the first week of their vacation.
However, this study relied on people's recall, and memory might be unreliable. The definition of leisure sickness was also vague. For example, one person's idea of ”rarely” and “relatively often” may differ from one other.
Another one 2014 study “Laydown headache” was investigated by asking 22 participants who repeatedly experience migraines to maintain a diary of their stress levels and migraine onset.
It could seem counter-intuitive, but reducing stress seems to trigger migraines. When they recorded a discount in stress at some point, they sometimes developed a migraine inside the following 24 hours. If the work was stressful, it could mean a pattern for refugees of their day.
Some evidence suggests that A stroke Some groups are much more common on weekends than on weekdays. There's no clear cause, however the study's authors suggest that strokes could also be triggered by weekend lifestyle changes.
So, what is going on on?
A scarcity of quality research on leisure sickness means we do not fully understand its potential causes. But there are some theories.
People often travel in the course of the holidays, and sit down Enclosed, crowded spaces Like airplanes, increasing their exposure to germs. travel Distant places It also can expose us to bacterial strains to which we should not immune.
We might as well be on vacation Drink more alcoholwho can Reduce immune function. And possibly we're pushing our body to do things it would not normally do, stressing it.
Another theory is that being busy at work distracts us and makes us less prone to do it Pay attention to the symptoms. On vacation, symptoms like muscle aches or headaches might be more pronounced — and we will not blame it on work. So we are able to feel the disease more.
Christopher Lemercier/Inplash
But isn't good on your health?
One is a A complicated relationship Between stress and the immune system.
Stress prompts the sympathetic nervous system and causes our bodies to release hormones like adrenaline and cortisol.
Chronic stress can mean that our cortisol levels remain high. Over time, this affects how well our immune cells reply to infection, so we're more prone to get sick if we come into contact with a virus or bacteria.
But within the short term, each adrenaline and cortisol can actually increase how well certain parts of the immune system work. This implies that severe stress can temporarily improve our resistance to infection, which is why we are able to feel busy and stressed but not sick. Cortisol's anti-inflammatory properties also can relieve pain.
But when the acute stress stops—for instance, after we finally have a probability to rest—a sudden transition can occur. We didn't profit from a brief immune boost or cortisol pain relief. So that is when we are able to get sick, and feel symptoms like headaches and muscle aches.
How can I avoid getting sick?
There's still so much we do not understand about how leisure sickness can occur. But we all know the best way to live dynamicto get enough sleep And food a A healthy, balanced diet — even if you're busy — will help boost your immune system.
one The study of Finnish Examined greater than 4,000 physically inactive government employees. It found that those that exercised repeatedly, particularly vigorous exercise, were less prone to take sick leave than those that remained inactive.
gave The link Between chronic stress and quite a lot of chronic illnesses, it is also smart to administer your workplace stress.
There is Good evidence That meditation, mindfulness and leisure techniques will help reduce stress.
You also can take steps to cut back your risk of respiratory infections while on vacation, so you'll be able to enjoy your vacation to the fullest. Consider staying up-to-date with flu and Covid boosters, and take other precautions, corresponding to wearing N95 masks on planes and airports.