Pushkin.

I was. I was having my annual medical checkup.

The nurse measured my weight and blood pressure.

She listened to my heart and then did some blood work.

Most of my test results came back fine, except one. My CRP levels were kind of high, but I didn't actually know what CRP levels were, so I turned to Google. Turns out high CRP levels are a sign of bodily

inflammation which can increase the risk of chronic health conditions like

kidney disease cancer, dementia, and premature death. I'm no medical doctor but that did not sound good. I returned to

the clinic to go over the results so this inflammation thing I asked what's

causing it. Inflammation my doctor replied, can be lots of things,

but it's usually a sign that your immune system is on the defense.

But we often see levels like these

when patients are experiencing a period of intense stress.

Have you been going through any stress lately?

I fidgeted, well, I said, then launched into all the stuff on my plate.

I talked about how I'd cared for over 500 students during a

pandemic while also running a lab while also making a podcast. I admitted I

hadn't been exercising or eating well and that I was feeling totally overwhelmed. My doctor, a

fan of the show, gave a smirk. So the famous happiness expert has been all stressed out,

huh? Hmm. Yeah, yeah I guess she has been, Yeah, I guess she has been.

And apparently, it's making her ill.

Stress is a normal bodily response.

It can be triggered by external factors like major life changes,

...