Sick of Stress? Or Sick from Stress?

It's 11 pm, and I just got home from battling the crowds at Target to finish up some last minute holiday shopping. I spent more time waiting in the line to the cash register than I did browsing the aisles. And looking around, I saw no faces filled with holiday cheer. In fact, this year's holiday season has been a rather gloomy one, with most people on edge about the economy.

This time of year always comes with varying levels of stress for most people. This year, in particular, has left many Americans filled with dismay about their futures. Whether your stress is related to finances, travel, weather, or something else, chronic stress has been shown to be associated with diminished immunity and increased risk for some infectious diseases.

While short-term, or "acute stress", is less of a concern for susceptibility to infections, long-term, or "chronic stress", can suppress certain branches of your immune system. Read more about your body's response to chronic stress and what you can do about it.