The #1 Stress Factor That Makes You Sick
Stress can take a serious toll on our health. Unfortunately, the top cause of stress affects many people, and the markers in our blood can reveal the most harmful types of stress. Here's what you should know.
Managing daily demands—whether at work, with family, or even during vacation—can be tough. But too much stress not only leads to burnout, it also increases the risk of serious health issues.
Researchers in the UK recently identified the type of stress that impacts health the most. Their findings, published in Brain, Behavior, and Immunity, give new insight into how stress affects our bodies.
Top 6 Most Harmful Stress Factors
The study analyzed stress markers in the blood of nearly 5,000 adults aged 50 and over from the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing. These markers affect the immune, nervous, and hormonal systems. For instance, cortisol—a key stress hormone—gives us an energy boost, but high cortisol levels over time can weaken the immune system and increase vulnerability to illnesses.
Researchers looked at how six different stress factors influenced health over four years:
- Financial worries
- Grieving the loss of a loved one
- Illness
- Disability
- Divorce
- Caring for a relative
Financial Stress: The Leading Health Risk
The study found that stress, in general, raises the risk of illness by 61%. Financial stress, however, was found to be especially harmful. Participants who reported financial worries had a 59% higher chance of developing health issues over the following four years. Odessa S. Hamilton, a doctoral researcher at University College London, explained that financial stress has the most significant impact on our physical well-being.
Financial stress can affect nearly every part of life, potentially leading to family conflict, social isolation, and, in severe cases, even hunger or homelessness.
While grief, illness, and disability also raised the risk of disease, they had a smaller effect. Though stressful, caring for relatives and going through a divorce were found to have less impact on overall health.
The Biological Effects of Stress
Hamilton emphasized that a healthy balance in our immune and hormonal systems is crucial for maintaining well-being. Chronic stress disrupts this balance, leading to illness. Therefore, people experiencing significant life stress should pay extra attention to their health