Hillary Clinton’s recent health woes may be the result, at least in part, of too much campaign stress, say experts, who warn that chronic, ongoing stress affects the immune system and can even be deadly.

“Stress can put a significant strain on the cardiovascular system,” prominent cardiologist Dr. Kevin Campbell tells Newsmax Health. “In people who have underlying heart disease, it is clear that added stress can put them at a much higher risk for an event such as a heart attack or stroke.

“Stress can also make you more susceptible to infection — such as pneumonia — if you have underlying heart or lung disease,” says the expert from North Carolina.

“Stress can impair your body’s ability to fight infection by lowering the potency of your immune system. When you are sick, it is imperative to listen to your doctor and take the time to allow your body to recover. Remember that it takes a great deal of energy for your body to fight an infection and heal so pushing yourself in times of illness only makes matters worse.”

The statistics are staggering. According to the American Institute of Stress, 44 percent of Americans feel more stressed than they did five years ago.

Work stress causes 10 percent of strokes. And stress increases the risk of heart disease by a whopping 40 percent, heart attack by 25 percent, and shrinks the brain.

The stress response has evolved over a millennium and its purpose — the fight-or-flight response — was designed to get the body ready for action.

The adrenals churn out hormones such as cortisol which raise blood pressure and blood sugar to prepare for action when a perceived danger is imminent.

“This is handy when you have to outrun a lion or win a race,” notes Dr. Jacob Teitelbaum, a Hawaii-based expert and author of “Real Cause, Real Cure.”

But he adds that stress itself is not inherently good or bad.

“The problem is when stress becomes chronic and the cortisol level is sustained over time so it is no longer enjoyable,” he says. “This can lead to obesity and its related health issues, chronic fatigue syndrome, fibromyalgia and a host of stress-related diseases because chronic stress suppresses a major control center called the hypothalamus.”

Stress-related health issues also include headaches, insomnia, frequent colds, infections (such as pneumonia), poor digestion, back pain as well as elevated blood pressure and blood sugar levels.

Researchers at Johns Hopkins Hospital also found that some people who are especially sensitive to stress can experience seizure-like symptoms such as far-off staring and convulsions.

Dr. Fabrizio Mancini, the internationally known best-selling author of “The Power of Self Healing,” tells Newsmax Health that when stress hormones go into overdrive, it weakens your immune system and increases your risk of infection.

“Remember that we all respond differently to stress,” he says. “What feels like a catastrophe to me may be small potatoes to you. But if you find that stress is impacting your health, I have a few tips to help you deal with it positively.”

Here are some strategies to ease stress and boost your immune system:

Exercise more. You may be feeling tired or even depressed, but turn off the TV and take a walk outdoors. The longer you walk the better and more energized your start to feel. Mood-lifting chemicals in your brain start to circulate. Your heart strengthens and your metabolism revs up — and these effects last for 48 hours afterward.

Sleep longer. A good night’s sleep helps your body regenerate. Practice good sleep hygiene by going to bed at the same time and avoiding electronics at least an hour beforehand.

Maintain a healthy body weight. If you are overweight, change your diet habits and lose excess pounds. Even a moderate weight loss will immediately improve your health. You may even be able to reduce your blood pressure or diabetes medication.

Hug often. There’ a power in a simple hug. Science has verified that the simple act of reaching out and hugging another person slows down the heart rate, reduces high blood pressure and even helps you recover from illness.

Teitelbaum adds that getting in touch with your feelings and staying true to yourself is another antidote to stress.

“If something feels good, then it’s healthy,” he says. “For example, I love the stress of sky diving while my wife is terrified! Leave your brain out of the equation and learn to say no to things that feel bad.

“Natural remedies may also be helpful. There is a unique component of Echinacea in a product called AnxioCalm which is as effective as Xanax but much safer.”

Dr. Jack Singer, a clinical and consulting psychologist based in Raleigh, tells Newsmax Health that the political candidate who handles stress the best may be the winner.

“Campaign stress can be grueling,” he says. “There’s the constant dealing with public and press scrutiny. Candidates expose every malfunction, verbal and otherwise.

“This takes a very thick-skinned person who can take the jabs without getting defense or rattled. The victor may very well be the candidate who is perceived as handling the stress of the presidency the best.”