Love can't give you the flu. But the hormone fluctuations associated with love and heartbreak — particularly the stress hormone cortisol — can prompt physical symptoms that affect your long-term health. Lovesickness can also make you sick indirectly.

Can missing someone cause physical symptoms?

Limerence: An Addiction to Love

For some people, lovesickness goes beyond butterflies: It may also induce physical effects, such as heart palpitations, shortness of breath, stomach pain, loss of sleep, and depression, all which may persist and prevent you from functioning normally.

Can being with someone make you physically sick?

FRIDAY, Feb. 22 (HealthDay News) -- Feeling insecure and frequently anxious about your romantic relationship can actually harm your health, new research contends. The feelings may boost levels of a stress hormone and lower your immune system, according to Ohio State researchers.