Holiday illness: why does your body give out when work stress drops?

Many people fall ill precisely when they finally go on holiday. This phenomenon is scientifically recognized and has a biological explanation related to a sharp drop in stress hormone levels.

You've been pushing through the last few weeks – tight deadlines, meetings, exams. Finally, your long-awaited holiday arrives, but within the first few days you're hit with a sore throat, a runny nose and exhaustion. Many people experience this, but it's not just bad luck – it's a well-documented biological phenomenon.

Why does your body give out?

Constant work stress keeps your body in what's called a "fight-or-flight" state, where the stress hormone cortisol is elevated. Cortisol acts as an anti-inflammatory agent and suppresses certain immune reactions. When stress suddenly drops, cortisol levels fall – and your immune system, which has been held back by stress, activates sharply. This sudden activation can trigger inflammatory responses just when you're hoping to relax.

Additionally, your body often accumulates chronic sleep debt over weeks without you noticing. When your holiday begins, your body finally allows itself to catch up on sleep – and during deep sleep, immune response intensifies, which can amplify feelings of illness.

How to avoid holiday illness?

According to experts, you should transition from work to holiday gradually rather than switching to complete passivity overnight. It's also important to pay attention to sleep hygiene before your holiday, exercise regularly, and avoid excessive alcohol consumption in the first days of your holiday, which puts further strain on your immune system. Your body needs transition time to shift from stress mode to healthy recovery mode.