An interesting article in San Diego Eldercare directory informs readers that researchers have figured out how stress makes people sick and can even kill them. Blood tests showed that a chemical called Interleukin-6 was much higher in stressed-out caregivers. Previous studies had found a link between IL-6 with heart disease, arthritis, osteoporosis, type-2 diabetes and some cancers. The caregivers study also found that increased IL-6 can linger for up to three years after a care recipient dies. The researchers believe that people who are stressed out tend to react by doing things that increase their IL-6. Some smoke, others overeat, they often don’t get enough exercise. This study is just one of many that highlight the link between stress and illness. Prolonged stress leads to dysautonomia, a state of imbalance in the functions of the internal organs that causes disease.