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Keep getting colds!

17 replies

pandapanda67 · 30/04/2024 18:12

Hello!

I keep getting nasty colds, one after the other. Any tips on anything to take to become a bit more resilient? It's so frustrating/ boring!

Thank you

OP posts:
HopeOneOfThosePeopleIsAMonkeyBecauseThisIsBanana · 30/04/2024 18:33

Vitamin D. Many people in the U.K. are too low.

Studies involving over 19,000 adults show that having low levels of vitamin D increases the likelihood of developing common cold symptoms by over a third (36%) compared with people with high levels.

Udford · 01/05/2024 00:41

I can’t offer any advice but I just wanted to say we’re in exactly the same boat!

All of us are picking up one thing after another. I’m awake now because I have a raging temp that won’t come down with paracetamol or ibuprofen and feeling generally grotty. Husband is exactly the same and as are the kids! I think there’s a few days before we develop something else.

Everything we develop doesn’t seem to be mild either. Ie a cold now totally wipes me out. The common cold as I knew it, seems to have disappeared!

SnapdragonToadflax · 01/05/2024 00:45

Vitamin D. You're likely very low at this point in the year, after a long winter and a dreary spring.

The NHS recommended amount is way too low.

Berlinlover · 01/05/2024 00:46

Get the ‘flu jab every winter, it really does work.

Computercalendar · 01/05/2024 02:11

My Gp told me to take echinacea and zinc tablets. I keep getting colds often as well.

Tinysarah1985 · 01/05/2024 03:14

Udford · 01/05/2024 00:41

I can’t offer any advice but I just wanted to say we’re in exactly the same boat!

All of us are picking up one thing after another. I’m awake now because I have a raging temp that won’t come down with paracetamol or ibuprofen and feeling generally grotty. Husband is exactly the same and as are the kids! I think there’s a few days before we develop something else.

Everything we develop doesn’t seem to be mild either. Ie a cold now totally wipes me out. The common cold as I knew it, seems to have disappeared!

Same here. Have been shivering since 7.30pm, temp went to 38.1 at about 2am for me. Only just came down, feeling absolutely awful. What a great way to spend my week off work 😠

Meadowfinch · 01/05/2024 04:57

How much time do you spend outside? Vitamin d deficiency?

Then aim for 30 different fruit & veg a week to boost your immune system.

Try to increase sleep & reduce stress (although easier said than done)

Elebag · 01/05/2024 05:38

Fresh air and walking every day. If you have primary school children try to have the odd weekend where you don't go anywhere busy, just walks and pottering at home. Take a multi vit and mineral tablet every day. Don't touch door handles or share towels with kids, I even had my own hand towel when mine were young.

ArghhWhatNext · 01/05/2024 05:53

I’ve had them all winter too, mostly becoming chest infections.
My doctor said 15 mins in contact with another person with a cold will re-infect you. I’d add to the deterrents above: ensure you’re getting plenty of sleep as being run down reduces your immunity. And meticulous hygiene is essential.

DogandMog · 01/05/2024 06:34

Vitamin D - take up to 4000 iu per day (upper recommendation with the NHS). Get one in combo with K2 which helps calcium absorption.
Magnesium
Zinc
Take elderberry syrup when you feel the first tingle of a cold coming on.

Lifestyle
Get plenty of lunchtime sun in the late spring - early autumn without protection - you want to expose as much skin as poss & stay out for 50% of the time it takes you to catch a bit of pinkness (depending on your skin tone).
Food - minimise sugar, alcohol, UPFs, they diminish the immune system. Eat plenty of meat, fish, shellfish, eggs, plain dairy, vegetables, fruit, nuts, seeds, porridge, quinoa etc. Optimise gut microbiome - fresh sauerkraut from the chiller cabinet at the store (or HM), kefir etc.
Moderate exercise in the fresh air. Both too little & too heavy (eg marathon training) are detrimental to the immune system.
Sleep - make sure both quanity and quality are good. Decent mattress, pitch black room, no screens before bed, no stimulating media at bedtime eg reading horror novels! If you have a smart watch/smart phone with sleep monitoring app, look into checking your sleep quality, could be affected by snoring/apnea etc.
Stress - another detriment. Try to reframe your stressors. Try meditation, prayer, practising your faith, even just going outside to a peaceful spot in nature, quitening your mind, inhale & exhale mindfully 🌳

CrunchyCarrot · 01/05/2024 07:33

Berlinlover · 01/05/2024 00:46

Get the ‘flu jab every winter, it really does work.

Flu jab doesn't work against colds - different virus entirely!

Berlinlover · 01/05/2024 09:10

CrunchyCarrot · 01/05/2024 07:33

Flu jab doesn't work against colds - different virus entirely!

Well it stopped me getting colds, I appreciate everyone is different though.

CrunchyCarrot · 01/05/2024 09:19

Berlinlover · 01/05/2024 09:10

Well it stopped me getting colds, I appreciate everyone is different though.

Well no it didn't, it's just not possible! Vaccines are specific, the flu vaccine targets the influenza virus whereas colds are caused by rhinoviruses, adenoviruses, etc. So perhaps it's just a happy coincidence that you have had less colds (natural immunity improved against them?), but it's not the flu vaccine.

Redlarge · 01/05/2024 09:28

Definitely get your vit d levels checked and take vit c too.
Mine were low and i felt so bad. Vast improvement in my health after 3 weeks.

Redlarge · 01/05/2024 09:29

DogandMog · 01/05/2024 06:34

Vitamin D - take up to 4000 iu per day (upper recommendation with the NHS). Get one in combo with K2 which helps calcium absorption.
Magnesium
Zinc
Take elderberry syrup when you feel the first tingle of a cold coming on.

Lifestyle
Get plenty of lunchtime sun in the late spring - early autumn without protection - you want to expose as much skin as poss & stay out for 50% of the time it takes you to catch a bit of pinkness (depending on your skin tone).
Food - minimise sugar, alcohol, UPFs, they diminish the immune system. Eat plenty of meat, fish, shellfish, eggs, plain dairy, vegetables, fruit, nuts, seeds, porridge, quinoa etc. Optimise gut microbiome - fresh sauerkraut from the chiller cabinet at the store (or HM), kefir etc.
Moderate exercise in the fresh air. Both too little & too heavy (eg marathon training) are detrimental to the immune system.
Sleep - make sure both quanity and quality are good. Decent mattress, pitch black room, no screens before bed, no stimulating media at bedtime eg reading horror novels! If you have a smart watch/smart phone with sleep monitoring app, look into checking your sleep quality, could be affected by snoring/apnea etc.
Stress - another detriment. Try to reframe your stressors. Try meditation, prayer, practising your faith, even just going outside to a peaceful spot in nature, quitening your mind, inhale & exhale mindfully 🌳

This is really helpful. Ill be following some of this. Thank you xx

pandapanda67 · 01/05/2024 10:09

Thank you everyone! I'm relieved I'm not the only one! I will definitely be upping my supplements which I currently take extremely sporadically. Elderberry syrup - lovely! Will definitely be buying this. And agree with whoever it said its not like they're mild either. I feel really rotten every other week. I do wonder if covid has something to do with it....

OP posts:
BigHoops · 01/05/2024 21:45

Another one here! I used to have such a strong immune system but over the past few months that's changed. I had Covid pretty badly over Christmas and since then, I've not been right. Colds, bugs, just generally feeling unwell. Selfishly glad it's not just me. Do wonder how much the weather has to do with it - in Scotland and it's been very chilly.

Facing down yet another cold but got a busy week and busier weekend planned. Safe to say am feeling very sorry for myself...

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