We're currently right smack in the middle of one of the most interesting presidential races of our time, and although trying to keep on top of the latest developments and deciding who to support may seem like a daunting and sometimes stressful job imagine what it must be like on the campaign trail for the candidates themselves. Running for President is an exhausting, stressful, "go-go-go" type endeavor and it can be downright hazardous to your health for a variety of reasons.

One of the more obvious health issues is the constant traveling combined with tightly packed schedules making finding time for working out difficult, but that's just the tip of the iceberg.

How running for President is hazardous to your health:

Sleep deprivation
We all know how important sleep is for everything from being in a good mood to controlling your appetite and slowing the aging process, but for a presidential candidates it might be an even bigger deal that lack of sleep can also lead to memory slips, poor decision-making, and even inappropriate comments or outbursts.
Unhealthy eating
Although it is possible to eat healthy while on the road but it's hardly easy. And in addition to all the usual challenges of finding healthy restaurant fare presidential candidates also face constant dieting nightmare events like barbecues and potlucks.

Stress
Presidential candidates spend years working in the extremely stressful public spotlight, asking for money and support and constantly battling against each other to get the upper hand. Chronic stress can speed up aging and exacerbate all kinds of health problems.

Germs!
Think just how many hands a presidential candidate shakes in a day...even just in one hour sometimes! There's no telling where some of those hands have been, and when they were last washed.

Vocal Strain
Running for President can mean an increased risk for voice problems because of rigorous schedules full of speeches, interviews, and debates -- not to mention all the "behind the scenes" planning and rehearsing.

Frequent Air Travel
The pressurized, dry air found on airplanes can dry out mucous membranes and leave people susceptible to getting sick and just plain feeling worn out. And presidential hopefuls fly so frequently often their bodies don't get the chance to recover in between trips.

Too much caffeine
Issues like packed schedules and a shortage of sleep come together to make a perfect recipe for too much caffeine consumption. Presidential candidates have to be especially careful because too much caffeine can cause anxiety attacks, interrupted sleep, and headaches.

Wow, this is a pretty nasty list of job hazards! Makes my sedentary "desk and computer" situation suddenly seem like a much smaller challenge to manage.