Question: I seem to get colds every few months, even during the summer. Can stress be the cause?

Dr. Hibberd's answer:
A new study has indicated that chronic stress caused by work woes or marital strife were more likely to develop persistent cold symptoms after inhaling the cold virus when compared to a similar exposure to their stress-free counterparts. The researchers found that the symptoms of a cold are caused by the inflammatory response due to overproduction of cortisol that is released in times of stress. This lowers the immune system, and persons exposed to the cold virus are more likely to develop symptoms of a cold. It is also well known that stress is a known risk factor for other diseases such as heart disease and asthma, and stress management would decrease diseases triggered by stress. Various stress management strategies have been devised that include identifying stress factors and dealing with them, and having a positive attitude. Yoga , meditation and exercise, while maintaining a healthy eating plan can reduce stress significantly.