Some call it the “relief effect” or “leisure sickness”. People who rarely get sick during the work week, but who often get sick on weekends or on vacation. There are several possible causes for this mysterious syndrome, but the mystery persists.
We spend weeks looking forward to a break, trying to survive the last busy days at work or classes. Finally, it’s time to relax. And suddenly, we feel exhausted, we start to feel that itch in our throat — and we realize that we are getting sick.
Why does this seem to happen Always right when the holidays or the weekend arrive? Some call it the “relief effect” or “leisure sickness”. But is this real?
Although the concept of this leisure disease circulating on the internet and in informal reports, studies on this phenomenon are very few and, often, not very strict.
In an article on , Thea van de Mortelprofessor at Griffith University, in Australia, analyzes what the evidence says – and what we can do to stay healthy and save our holidays.
The term “leisure sickness”, coined by Dutch researchers in a 2002 publication in Psychiatry and Psychologyrefers to people who rarely get sick during the work weekbut which are often sick at weekends or on vacation.
Researchers interviewed 1,893 people and about 3% reported suffering from leisure-time illness. The most common symptoms were headaches, tirednesscolds and flu, muscle pain and nausea.
People had greater tendency to develop infections during holidays than on weekends, and symptoms were more frequent in the first week of rest.
However, this investigation was based on people’s memorieswhich may be unreliable. Furthermore, the definition of leisure disease was vague. For example, what one person considers “rarely” or “often” may not be the same for another.
In another, published in 2014 in the magazine Neurologywhich analyzed the calls “relief headaches”, researchers asked 22 participants who regularly suffered from migraines to keep a diary of their stress levels and the onset of attacks.
It may seem strange, but the Stress reduction seemed to cause migraines. When they experienced a drop in stress in one day, they usually developed a migraine within the next 24 hours. If work was the stressor, this could lead to a pattern of migraines on days off.
There is also evidence that strokes may be more frequent on the weekend than during the week, in certain groups. There is no clear cause, but the authors suggest that lifestyle changes at the weekend can be a triggering factor.
So, what’s going on anyway?
The lack of quality research into the “disease of leisure” means that the possible causes are not well understood. But There are some theories.
Often, during holidays, we travel and spend time in closed and crowded places, such as airplanes, which increases exposure to germs. Traveling to distant destinations can also expose ourselves to viruses or bacteria to which we have no immunity.
During the holidays, we can still consume more alcohol, which decreases the immune system’s response. AND we tend to demand more from the bodyleading you to unusual efforts and putting you under stress.
Another theory is that, when we are busy at workwe are distracted and we don’t pay as much attention to symptoms. During the holidays, symptoms such as muscle pain or headaches become more evident – and we can no longer blame work. This way, we can more easily notice that we are sick.
But relaxing is not good for your health? The relationship between stress and the immune system is complex; the Stress activates the sympathetic nervous system and causes the body to release hormones such as adrenaline and cortisol.
O chronic stress leads to high and prolonged cortisol levels. Over time, this decreases the ability of our immune cells to respond to infections, making us more vulnerable to viruses and bacteria.
But, in the short term, both adrenaline and cortisol can, in fact, temporarily reinforce some functions of the immune system. In other words, acute stress can improve resistance to infections for a limited period, which is why, despite the hustle and bustle and stress, we may not get sick. The anti-inflammatory properties of cortisol also relieve pain.
However, when acute stress disappearsfor example, when we finally rest, there is a sudden change; we lose the temporary boost of the immune system and the pain relief provided by cortisol. It is at this point that we can get sick and experience symptoms such as headaches and muscle pain.
How can I avoid getting sick?
There is still much that is not known about how or why “leisure sickness” arises. But we know that stay activeget enough sleep and follow a balanced dieteven during the busiest periods, helps to strengthen the immune system.
A Finn published in 2012 in Preventive Medicine analyzed more than 4,000 physically inactive public employees. He concluded that those who began to practice regular exercise, especially more intense ones, had less probability of missing work due to illness than those who remained sedentary.
Given the impact of chronic stress on several long-term illnesses, it also makes sense manage stress associated with work. There is good evidence that meditation, mindfulness and relaxation techniques help reduce stress.
There are also measures you can take to reduce the risk of infections breathing during your holidays, so you can fully enjoy your rest. Stay up to date with your flu and COVID vaccines, and consider other precautions, such as wearing an N95 mask on planes and in airports.
So, have a nice vacation!
