Khaberni - Everyone anticipates vacations for relaxation after weeks of strenuous work, but some suddenly find themselves confronting unexpected health symptoms, as if their bodies choose the time to give in to the illness.
These symptoms typically include headache, fatigue, sore throat, and flu-like symptoms. This phenomenon is known among researchers as "leisure sickness," or scientifically as the "Let-Down Effect" (), a health condition that is gaining increasing scientific attention.
This pattern emerges when the body shifts from a state of active stress during work to a state of sudden relaxation, leading to changes in the immune and hormonal systems. During acute psychological stress, the body secretes cortisol, which acts as a natural anti-inflammatory and pain suppressant, and during rest, the hormone rapidly decreases, leading to a reduction in this protective effect, making the body more susceptible to the previously mentioned symptoms or new infections.
Alongside this physiological reason, holiday-associated habits themselves may also contribute to an increased risk of illness, such as exhausting travel, changes in diet, lack of sleep, mixing with new people, all of which may weaken the body's immunity at a time when we need strength to face surrounding changes.
The accumulation of these negative factors is clearly visible when you stop working, as your body is released from the continuous emergency state it was in, beginning to show signs of fatigue and weakness that it previously hid.
To protect yourself from this phenomenon, you can start by caring for your health during the work period, not just at the start of the vacation. Experts recommend maintaining a balanced diet, sleeping well, and taking short breaks during the day. When vacation time comes, try to transition gradually from an intense work pattern to rest, instead of stopping abruptly. Also, engaging in some light exercise and maintaining body hydration can help strengthen the immune system.
