If you have an office job, you’re probably used to sharing a lot of things with your co-workers. Don’t get caught in the trap of sharing your germs with them, too! So many people feel pressured to go into work, despite being sick with a cold, flu, or other easily transmittable illness. Today, we’re going to talk about the reasons you should take a sick day and how to feel less guilty about it.

Statistically, the common cold is the most prevalent illness worldwide. In fact, there are more than 250 types of viruses that cause the symptoms of a common cold. Although you can come down with a cold most any time of the year, the majority of colds occur in the winter and spring.

More commonly known as the flu, influenza is a respiratory illness that can be caused by different types of influenza viruses. It should not be confused with the “stomach flu,” which causes abdominal pain, vomiting, and diarrhea.

Cystic fibrosis is a genetic disease – and it’s one that can lead to a lifetime of health woes. This disease causes a buildup of mucus in the lungs, pancreas, and digestive system, along with other organs.

Crohn’s disease is a chronic inflammatory disease of the digestive, or gastrointestinal (GI), system that affects around 780,000 Americans. It is most commonly diagnosed between the ages of 15 and 35. Although Crohn’s disease can affect any part of your digestive system from the mouth to the anus, it most commonly affects the small intestine and the colon, also known as the large intestine.

After skin cancer, lung cancer is the second most common cancer diagnosed in both men and women in the United States. Furthermore, it is the leading cause of cancer deaths among both men and women in the United States. It accounts for 25 percent of all deaths from cancer. To put this into perspective, more men and women die each year from lung cancer than prostate, colon, ovarian, and breast cancers combined.