Why Do We Get Sick on Vacation?

Here’s a breakdown of the key information from the provided text, focusing on “leisure sickness” and its research:

What is Leisure Sickness?

* It’s the feeling of getting sick or feeling tired on days off or during vacation.

How Common is it?

* A 2025 German study found that around 72% of employees experience this at least occasionally.
* 19% report it happening always or often.

What Causes it (According to Research)?

* Availability outside of working hours: Being constantly “on call” or connected to work.
* High workloads: Excessive demands at work.
* Lack of rest and relaxation: Not enough downtime to recover.
* Stress & Immune System: chronic stress leads to high cortisol levels, which weakens the immune system over time.
* “Rebound” Effect: A 2014 study on migraine patients found that reducing stress one day could trigger a migraine within 24 hours.This suggests the body is accustomed to a certain level of stress and reacts negatively to sudden drops.

Research Methodology & Limitations:

* Many studies rely on self-reports and memories, which can be unreliable.
* despite this limitation, multiple studies point to underlying mechanisms.

Key Researchers/Sources Mentioned:

* Stefanie André: Professor of health management at IU International University of Applied Sciences, expert in workplace health.
* van de Mortel: (Name only, no specific affiliation given) – involved in the 2014 relaxation headache study.

Links to Studies:

* IU Germany Leisure Sickness Study

* Neurology Study on Relaxation Headaches

In essence, the article presents leisure sickness as a real and surprisingly common phenomenon linked to the pressures of modern work life and the complex interplay between stress and the body’s immune system. It’s not simply a psychological issue or a sign of weakness.