Does anyone else seem to get sick.. A LOT?

Brenda_Pancakes

Just a general question for anyone cruisin' the forums today: Does anyone else have any experience with getting sick (ie: sore throats, cough, runny nose, congestion, overall cold-like symptoms) a lot?

I eat pretty healthy. I exercise regularly. I take vitamins every night. On paper, you would think that I'm a candidate for the title "healthy". But I get sick... A LOT.

I do have allergies, and I'm sure that's part of my problem... But has anyone out there found little tips that help you from constantly getting colds and boosting your immune system?

**Note: Yes, I have apt. w/ my doc schedued for next week.**

Thank you in advance for any suggestions :flowerforyou:

dawnp1833

I know it hasn't been proven by science or whatever, but I swear by Airborne. Whenever someone in my office is sick or I am in big crowds of potentially plague carrying people, I drink it. And I'm rarely sick.

bcattoes

You are correct on the allergies, that will contribute a lot. But sometimes it just comes down to your personal genetic makeup. Some people get sick more often no matter how healthy their lifestyle. Others rarely get sick no matter how unhealthy their lifestyle.

I am the latter. I rarely get sick. I do have a fairly healthy lifestyle, but I rarely got sick when I ate junk and never exercised either. I'm just lucky in that respect. My oldest daughter has allergies and gets sick a lot even though she's never been much of a junk food eater and has always been fit. I guess she didn't get my lucky gene. :ohwell:

benjamin1226

If you weight train or even train in any sports too extensively to the point your body cannot recover fully, you might be over-training. If that's the case, your body's immune systems will decrease drastically. Perhaps you are just unfortunate that you are around sick people, and it is winter flu time. lol Hope you feel better.

ashleyhacker

I never seem to get sick. I take two multi-vitamins and drink loads of water.

Edit: I am on a calorie restricted diet so I take two multi-vitamins so my body gets everything it needs. My honey takes fish oil pills and vitamin C supplements and he eats lots of oranges so he is able to avoid getting sick that way.

auroranflash

Zinc and Vitamin C. Lots of garlic and onions in your diet, they're antiviral. If I hit it early with the Zicam (which is mostly zinc, helps keep the infection from spreading) then it's usually not as bad, but I have a tendency to get sinus infections at least four times a year. It's a pain in the ... well, sinuses.

http://www.drugstore.com/products/prod.asp?pid=142205&catid=59915&aid=338666&aparam=goobase_filler

Try that stuff - NeilMed Sinus Rinse. It's like a neti pot but easier to use. Make sure to use distilled water. It's not nearly as bad as you might think - I was scared at first, too, but it helps.

footiechick82

I creeped your diary - you don't eat any salad.

You need greens to stay healthy. Eat more greens, you won't get sick so often.

AllonsYtotheTardis

I've actually found the opposite. Since working on getting to a healthier weight (eating better, exercising), I've been getting sick less often. It seems to have helped my immune system.

My hubby catches everything going - and we eat about the same (he eats portions more appropriate to him, but he eats what I cook). Genetics appear to play a part.

justjenny

Are you getting enough sleep? I have been logging 7 to 8 hours a night for the past few years, and I notice I am very rarely sick... *knock on wood*.....

Sweet_Potato

You are correct on the allergies, that will contribute a lot. But sometimes it just comes down to your personal genetic makeup. Some people get sick more often no matter how healthy their lifestyle. Others rarely get sick no matter how unhealthy their lifestyle.

I am the latter. I rarely get sick. I do have a fairly healthy lifestyle, but I rarely got sick when I ate junk and never exercised either. I'm just lucky in that respect. My oldest daughter has allergies and gets sick a lot even though she's never been much of a junk food eater and has always been fit. I guess she didn't get my lucky gene. :ohwell:

I'm like you-- I rarely get sick. However, I recently started tracking my Vitamin C intake and noticed it is always through the roof... I wonder if that has anything to do with it?

Madholm

I've caught 2 colds already since the weather has cooled down. I'm figured with my new healthy eating habbits I'd be unlikely to get sick, but it isn't so. I have noticed that I don't really get 'sick' so much as I just have a stuffy nose and/or cough for a few days. I also drink (and smoke when I drink) so I'm sure that doesn't help. I shake hands with at least a dozen different people every day so I certainly get exposes me to a large number of germs. I'd say the environment and your genes have more to do with it than your diet.

Tracy_03311981

Do you have small children or are around small children? They are germ magnets.
Where do you work? Working in the public says enough too! Do you work somewhere that has a lot of people with small children? Office's are germ magnets as well. One of my last jobs I kept getting pink eye because one of my co workers kids kept getting it and she would carry it on her and I would end up getting it.

I hardly ever get sick, maybe because I don't have any kids, don't work with anyone in my office who has small children. Or maybe I'm lucky

PaleoPath4Lyfe

Just a general question for anyone cruisin' the forums today: Does anyone else have any experience with getting sick (ie: sore throats, cough, runny nose, congestion, overall cold-like symptoms) a lot?

I eat pretty healthy. I exercise regularly. I take vitamins every night. On paper, you would think that I'm a candidate for the title "healthy". But I get sick... A LOT.

I do have allergies, and I'm sure that's part of my problem... But has anyone out there found little tips that help you from constantly getting colds and boosting your immune system?

**Note: Yes, I have apt. w/ my doc schedued for next week.**

Thank you in advance for any suggestions :flowerforyou:

You eat a lot of processed foods, hardly any fruits and vegetables. Your body needs green leafy vegetables (iron, calcium, etc), Citrus fruits for the Vitamin C, etc................

If you have allergies.............you should try and cut out or cut down on the dairy consumption - it is most likely the thing that is contributing the most to your allergies.

healthy4heidi

To sum it up, water, greens and sleep in addition to your already kick butt efforts should help keep you healthy.

allifantastical

I actually found that since I have been exercising and keeping track of my food intake I have been getting sick less.

I can't remember if you mentioned it or not, but if you go to a gym....maybe start using hand sanitizers? Alot of people don't clean off the machines, that could be were you are getting some germs.

Polly758

Using chipped Teflon pans gives flu-like symptoms. I almost killed my pet lizard cooking on one before someone told me about it.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polymer_fume_fever

gauchogirl

Actually the opposite. I used to come down with EVERYTHING. Was sick all the time. Then I joined a gym and started exercising and cut out foods that weren't a positive influence on my heath and I have only had 1 cold (and it was mild) in the lat 18 months. It has been AWESOME to be able to use my vacation days for actual vacations and not illness.

jlapey

I suffer from allergies and used to get a major sinus infection twice a year. My doctor recommended the Neti pot. I use it every morning and every night and my allergies have improved significantly and I've had only one infection in the last 4 years.

Nasal solution recipe (from doctor): bring 2 quarts water to boil, let boil 1-2 minutes, turn off fire, add 4 teaspoons non-iodized salt and 2 teaspoons baking soda, stir till dissolved and store in a container. Much cheaper than buying refills.

I have also read that although most people believe vitamin C is the way to go, you really should boost your vitamin D.

Good luck!

tcunbeliever

If you are constantly sick then I would stay away from things like echinacea that are immune boosters - those are really only designed for short-term use, and instead go for strong antioxidants like pychnogenol or grape seed or green coffee...allergies are basically an autoimmune issue, so avoid any herbs or vitamins that are going to aggravate that condition, antioxidants are great for curing allergies which will in turn relieve your body of some of the stress caused by your overtaxed immune system which will then make you less susceptible to everday germs. Weight loss - even done in a healthy manner - is still a form of stress for your body, so it might also help to try setting aside some time every day (15 min - 1 hour, whatever you can spare) to dedicate to anti-stress like meditation, yoga, bath or foot soak, comedy movie - whatever will help you relax a bit.

Captain_Tightpants

Are you immune suppressed in some way? (a lot of conditions can do it - insulin resistance for example). Otherwise, yeah it's probably just unfortunate genetics. My wife is the same, if there's one instance of a cold or flu in a 20 mile radius, she'll somehow contract it. All you can do is be extra careful in your hygeine habits, and as everyone else said - enough sleep, good stress management, water and more water, and garlic, onion, fruit and veg to the nines.

aryastark8

I'm exactly like you. Probably have more days with a sore throat than without. I have talked to several Dr.'s about it many times, with no results. The only thing that helped me was when I found out I am allergic to dust mite. Reducing exposure to dust helped, but I still get colds very often. Having enough sleep and reducing stress seems very helpful. One thing that does make a difference, if I stick to it, is drinking a freshly squeezed juice of 1 lemon (with lots of water and some sugar/honey) every morning. Oh, and make sure you get enough vitamine either spend at least 30 mins a day outside during daylight, or take a supplement. This is very important for your immune system, and also helps with your energy levels.

Brenda_Pancakes

- Yeah - I was thinking that processed foods and my sodium intake may be part of the problem. I'm going to definitly work on that. More veges and fruits, more vitamin C. Note definitly taken

- I actually eat a lot of salads and veges... but I'm a fan of putting processed crap on them. So yes, that's probably part of my issue too.

- Oh yeah, the Neti Pot sinus rinse thing is awesome. Really helps with the allergies. I totally recommend that one as well

- SLEEP. Yeah, I've heard that one before. I average about 6 hrs a night. I'm thinking I need to be closer to 7 1/2.

- And yes, I work in an office that has a public counter in the front. I'm in the back - but i'm sure there's a very large amount of nasty germs that circulate on a regular basis.

- Zinc... interesting. I've taken Airborne and Emergen-C when I felt a cold coming on. Is zinc a normal suppliment that one can take on a regular basis?

THANK YOU ALL for the awesome suggestions!

Pedal_Pusher

it's a rarity for me. *knocks on wood*

castlerobber

I know it hasn't been proven by science or whatever, but I swear by Airborne.

Airborne is completely ineffective. A handful of vitamins, minerals, electrolytes, and a few herbal extracts. The manufacturer lost a lawsuit in 2008 over their claims that it prevented colds, and had to give refunds to customers. They're now limited to calling Airborne an "immune booster".

According to the FTC’s complaint, "there is no competent and reliable scientific evidence to support the claims made by the defendants that Airborne tablets can prevent or reduce the risk of colds, sickness, or infection; protect against or help fight germs; reduce the severity or duration of a cold; and protect against colds, sickness, or infection in crowded places such as airplanes, offices, or schools."

teenytinylove

oh my gosh, i feel like EVERYTIME i start up my diet again i get sick and feel like ****.

LoraF83

You don't eat enough.

Some days, you only log 400 calories. I would venture a guess that your body is so preoccupied by lack of food that it doesn't have time to waste fighting off a cold.

I eat a moderate deficit, TDEE-20%. I eat mostly healthy with some junk and workout 3-5 days a week. I'm hardly ever sick an when I am, it doesn't hit me that hard. For example, my husband and I both have had colds in the last week. His hit him like a mack truck....mine was just a slightly irritating sore throat in the mornings and one or two days of a runny nose.

You can pop vitamins all day long, but it's not going to make up for the fact that you are eating a VLCD.

eyeforinfo

Your responders have hit a lot of good points. Good nutrition. Sleep. Recovery from work-outs. Genetics. Allergies. All play a part. You have to keep exploring and get to know your body and how best to maintain it in a way that works the best for you.

Someone made a good point about greens = more B vitamins which might be helpful to you. I have found that garlic is super helpful for protection from viruses - although raw seems to work better than cooked. Uncooked ginger root also has great anti-viral properties and has the added benefit of reducing inflammation in the body.

Good luck!

SPBROOKS68

I catch everything...but I am on immune supressing steriods :grumble:

stephwilkerson45

I have the same, but I attribute it to three things:

1 - I don't get enough sleep. I know I don't, but it's a hard habit to break, and it can't help.
2 - I ride public transit (hooray for the CTA) every day. So, I chill in a germ tube for approximately an hour every day.
3 - The gym is a hotbed of germs. And people don't clean the equipment.

saracatherine89

When I was in college I was sick ALL OF THE TIME. Granted I smoked, drank heavily 4x a week and ate terribly, but it was almost comical. In my four years at school, I had strep throat 4x, bronchitis 8x, pneumonia 1x, the SWINE FLU 1x, constant sinus infections and numerous kidney/bladder infections. My friends all joked that I was the #1 patient of the medical center. When I graduated college I went to an ENT and he said that the reason I was sick all of the time was because my septum was so deviated that my sinuses could never properly drain and I would constantly keep getting sick. My tonsils had the same issue- they would harbor infection. I am planning on saving up for a surgery to get both issues taken care of, but I haven't been sick in a year and that is probably because I started taking daily multivitams, doing a nasal irrigation and EATING BETTER AND EXERCISE

ubermensch13

I know it hasn't been proven by science or whatever, but I swear by Airborne. Whenever someone in my office is sick or I am in big crowds of potentially plague carrying people, I drink it. And I'm rarely sick.

Right, forget empirical data and double blind peer reviewed studies, Airborn works because I use it and am rarely sick....ugh *facepalm*

Your environment is most likely the cause of your sickness. Your allergies, your natural immune system, the weather, etc. I used to get sick way more often until I moved to California and took a different job. My allergies are non existent, I'm no longer as stressed and the shut in environment during winter no longer happens=less sickness for me.