Skip to main content

The surprising reason you feel awful when you're sick - Marco A. Sotomayor

4,187,577 Views

12,715 Questions Answered

TEDEd Animation

Let’s Begin…

It starts with a tickle in your throat that becomes a cough. Your muscles begin to ache, you grow irritable, and you lose your appetite. It’s official: you’ve got the flu. It’s logical to assume that this miserable medley of symptoms is the result of the infection coursing through your body — but is that really the case? Marco A. Sotomayor explains what’s actually making you feel sick.

In experiments with rats when the vagus nerve is cut, some of the effects of inflammation are abolished such as depression. However, fever can persist. Why do you think this is?

Sign in to answer question

About TED-Ed Animations

TED-Ed Animations feature the words and ideas of educators brought to life by professional animators. Are you an educator or animator interested in creating a TED-Ed Animation? Nominate yourself here »

Meet The Creators

More from Getting Under Our Skin