Stumping Hazardous to Health

Even the presidential candidates who miss out on the White House will feel the effects of their campaigns for years to come. The mad dash to the Oval Office—speeches all day, deadline pressures, cross-country tours—puts tremendous stress on the body. Forbes takes on the low points:

1. Sleep deprivation, leading to memory losses and risky decision-making.
2. Poor diets, causing that waist to grow (Clinton favors ice cream; Obama, French fries).

3. High stress, releasing hormones that lead to overeating (hello, fries!).
4. Germs from all that hand-shaking, along with cold viruses and eye infections.
5. Caffeine overload, with ensuing anxiety attacks and headaches.
6. Air travel, whose pressurized cabin can encourage infections.
7. Vocal strain, which can cause voice problems.
8. Premature aging, thanks to all of the above.

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