11/11/2002

From JEAN ENERSEN / KING 5 News

Whether managing her own company, rushing her daughter to piano lessons, or whipping up dinner for the family, Donna Abood has a lot of stress in her life.

"It's amazing, it really is, how many balls you juggle," says Donna.

It's a juggling act that her doctor says has taken a toll on her health, at one point even triggering pneumonia.

"The doctor took that real seriously and said 'ya know Donna, you're just going too fast, too far and you've broken your immune system down,'" says Donna.

Now there is scientific evidence that people who are stressed get sick twice as often as others.

Dr. Shedon Cohen, who studies stress and sickness, says chronic stress is brought on by work and even bad relationships.

KING Exercise battles stress and boosts the immune system.

Studies show workplace stress takes the worst toll, making you five times more likely to get sick.

"People that have higher levels of job stress have lower levels of certain antibodies that are associated with effectively fighting off colds and the flu and other types of infections," says Dr. Cohen.

But there is a way to strengthen your immune system through exercise and breathing techniques.

"When one sits quietly, focusing on their breathing, repeats a word, a sound, a prayer, a phrase, these steps are quite useful in dealing with stress," says Dr. Cohen.

Donna now takes vitamins every day and works out three times a week.

"That little bit makes a world of difference in my life and how I feel today," she says.

Research has also been done on the affects of stress on more serious illnesses. The results have shown a connection to things like depression, high blood pressure, heart problems, even possibly some types of cancer.