If you’ve caught a runny nose, a sore throat or a recurring cough this season, know that there’s a reason for it. Frequent infections do not appear without reason. The cause can be more or less serious, in any case – it’s worth checking why this is happening and what you can do to prevent it.
First, it is important to distinguish whether the infections are caused by stress or poor nutrition. Sometimes they can also result from the so-called. an immunodeficiency that is congenital or acquired (due to immunosuppressants, HIV infection or other conditions). According to the American organization of allergists and immunologists, to find out if you have a congenital immunodeficiency, you need to answer 6 questions:
- Have you ever had pneumonia in your life?
- Have you noticed that you need to take antibiotics more than twice a year (at least 4 for children)?
- Are you developing very serious infections that start out like typical bacterial infections?
- Do you get ear infections more than 4 times a year?
- Or have you had bacterial sinusitis at least 3 times a year?
- Are you taking prophylactic antibiotics to reduce the number of infections?
When you answer yes to some of them, you should do thorough research. However, don’t worry – congenital immunodeficiencies are rare. In developed countries, common causes of immune disorders are chronic diseases, such as chronic kidney disease, leukemia, diabetes.
Cold several times a year
If you suffer from the common cold, runny nose or sore throat, you have no reason to worry. Such infections can happen to anyone. However, recurrent urinary tract infections, dermatitis, and pneumonia may be of concern. These types of diseases should prompt you to visit a doctor and deepen the diagnosis. Many people get infections for reasons that are usually ignored and not associated with the disease – age, poor nutrition, stress and even intense physical activity.
What can I do to get sick less?
First, always heal to the end. According to doctors, the best way to treat upper respiratory tract infections is to stay warm. That’s why you shouldn’t go back to work as soon as your fever drops. Sometimes it’s better to stay at home for a few more days, heal until the end. Without it, you will quickly catch another infection, because a weakened body quickly catches any bacteria and viruses.
When you are not sick, remember about winter walks. Many people avoid them, believing that they will get sick faster when they go out. This is a mistake, because outdoor activity oxygenates the body and increases immunity. Thanks to this, you harden your body. However, avoid large gatherings of people, such as shopping malls, cinemas, etc. In places where there are a lot of people, there are even swarms of germs, so it’s easy to catch an infection.