i dont understand

[puppy]

how i always, i have always, wrapped up warm in icy cold weather, warm coat, big wooly scarf and gloves and sometimes a wooly hat too and yet i still end up with the nastiest cold or chest infection, while every other female i see wanders around in short skirts and/ or strappy tops (flip flops ?) and they dont even so much as sneeze !

 

[searchingforGodlyanswers]

Could be your immune system is not as strong as others for some reason. Stress can decrease the immune systems's ability to fight an infection. Also it depends on what you expose yourself to that others may not be, diet, hand washing, and so on. I wonder if genetics may also have something to do with it. I have heard of a study done where females wanted males who had a different scent because of the immune system the selected male had would be contributing dna with the female to make sturdy offspring.

 

[LynnMcG]

Umm, could be because you don't get sick from being cold? That's an old wive's tales.

You get cold from viruses and bacteria. People get sick more in the winter because houses tend to be closed up, so there's a better chance of the viruses being on surfaces longer.

 

[lucypevensie]

Yep, it's an old wives' tale that you get colds from being out in the cold. Look into doing something to boost your immune system.

My own 8 year old daughter has been susceptible to colds her whole life. As soon as school starts in the fall it seems like she has them one after another all schoolyear long. This year I decided to try some supplements to help boost her immune system. She takes echinacea on a one-week-on/one-week-off schedule. So far she has only had 2 colds this fall. And this last cold she got I added zinc lozenges to the regimen, about 3-4 a day. That cold only lasted 4 days.

 

[searchingforGodlyanswers]

Yep, it's an old wives' tale that you get colds from being out in the cold. Look into doing something to boost your immune system.

My own 8 year old daughter has been susceptible to colds her whole life. As soon as school starts in the fall it seems like she has them one after another all schoolyear long. This year I decided to try some supplements to help boost her immune system. She takes echinacea on a one-week-on/one-week-off schedule. So far she has only had 2 colds this fall. And this last cold she got I added zinc lozenges to the regimen, about 3-4 a day. That cold only lasted 4 days.

I have tried the echinacea and goldenseal route and still got sick with sinus infections. I think nowadays I get sick less often because I don't get out as much and am not exposed to as many people. Plus I still try to remember taking my vitamins. You could also try drinking a lot of juice (especially all natural or home pureed) with vitamins (especially C) and eating fruit.

 

[xray01]

drink more water as well, it helps flush out any toxins and 'bugs'

 

[LynnMcG]

One more thing...I've noticed that people who take antibiotics all the time tend to get more sick than I do. My husband and SIL take antibiotics at the smallest sniffle but I'll tough out a sinus or ear infection and let it run it's course. I know it's not advisable for everyone, but for me, I'm healthier.

 

[searchingforGodlyanswers]

drink more water as well, it helps flush out any toxins and 'bugs'

I might try that. I knew water flushed out toxins, but common sense should have told me that's why doctors often say plenty of fluids and rest when I have a cold/infection/etc.
I think that's another thing is I sleep more now and get sick less often than I used to those times that I got sick more.

Lot's of hand washing and not touching your face can help when you are exposed. I took microbiology and alcohol can get rid of some germs, but warm soap and water and rinsing thoroughly does the best job of cleaning germs of hands. And to avoid reinfection if you do get those and spreading it to others, you might want to consider washing your hands each time you blow your nose. If you do this frequent hand washing, you'll need lots of hand lotion.
I'm just wondering... would the majority rather do what it takes to avoid colds, or would they rather risk suffering infections?