Frequent colds and infections

[AI1694]

So last year September time I had a cold which lasted a few days. Back in February of this year I had the flu then a chest infection which required antibiotics. Was off work for almost 2 weeks. Then couple of weeks ago I caught a cold for a few days wasn’t that bad just waiting for the cough to go now.

Slightly concerned though as that’s 3 occurences in the space of a year pretty much. I did have a blood test earlier this year; was all clear apart from being a tad low on Vitamin D.

I’m inclined to go to my GP and ask for another full blood panel and check up. What could cause poor immune function (if that’s what it is)? Only thing I can think of is being semi-stressed as my wife is stressed due to her caring for an ill parent and the knock on effect it’s having on us. Work is fine and causing no issues.

[Canute]

Stress certainly won't help.

How much quality sleep are you getting?

[ToothbrushMan]

do you work with a lot of people in an enclosed space ?

i found that when I was working it was in an office of about 20 people at its peak and we were all having sniffles coughs and colds in cycle regularly all year round.

since being made redundant 7 months ago I have not had a single cold or the sniffles.

I am convinced many enclosed workplaces are a haven for germs to reside. not so much if you work outdoors maybe.

[TwistingMyMelon]

I used to get ill more with colds when I was younger, less so now, even though I have young kids who just fester and spread germs, I find the following helps me avoid it:

Daily or 3/4 times a week decent cardio exercise, for me cycling to work
Zinc supplementation
Try and avoid booze
Dont overdo it at the weekend going out
Eat well and avoid processed food

I find I always get a bit of a cold/cough in September when the seasons change, otherwise feel much better

[ALawson]

I also find myself suffering in a similar fashion. I am taking multivits including vitamin C and D, I normally am pretty active cycling through the year but normally when training in the garage on the Turbo will normally loose a 4-6 week block either side of Christmas due to cold and general malaise.

Strangely when doing some intervals or even 1-1.5hrs at say 150 HR I feel fine and any gung gets blown out the system, however, I then end up feeling worse.

So far this year I had one day off at the beginning of the month and although WFH last week due to a sick child I was happy to not be in work and organised a GP appointment. GP informed them my eye had a viral infection and that I had probably run myself down training with a viral infection(s). I am now in a new work location and it is a smaller office, they are mad keen on hand washing and general prevention. So maybe I am slightly unlucky.

I am not trying to decide when to recommence training, I have a cough that comes and goes and generally clear stuff from the nose. However, I am sill mobilising stuff of the chest every now and then. GP check breathing and lungs and all was fine.

BP was high but since buying a home monitor I expect 10 cups of tea / coffee a day weren't helping.

I think I will ease myself back in slowly with 30-45 min sessions keeping the HR in Z2.

[popeyewhite]

Zinc is the only supplement proven to shorten the length of a cold. To avoid a cold wash your hands regularly and properly, and don't get too close those with sniffles. Avoid excessive exercise.

[Scabutz]

OP - do you have small children. Never been so ill as when my kids started school.

I go through phases of being very healthy - no booze, loads of fruit and veg, plenty of exercise, good sleep. During those times I rarely get ill, maybe the odd cold. Even when doing huge exercise (20hrs per week) I didn't get ill.

At other times I drink all the wine, go to bed far too late and eat bad food. Those times I get more colds, flu, stomach bugs and they last longer.

[Dr Doofenshmirtz]

I eat two Apples, a Banana and a raw Carrot every day. These have proven health benefits including the ability to fight colds, infection etc.
I genuinely can't remember the last time I had a cold or was ill. My last sick day off work (due to a dodgy meal at a restaurant) was 13 years ago.

[kwaka jack]

For years I use to catch every single cold going. At the start of the year I lost a bit of weight because of a separate health issue and since then I haven't caught a single cold and I've been in contact with at least 3 people who have had colds during the year. Not sure if it related but its the only thing that has changed since I've stopped getting colds. Might be worth loosing a few pounds to see if that makes any difference?

[mike74]

For anyone who isn't an unemployed hermit living halfway up a mountain I'd say catching 3 colds in the space of 12 months is pretty average isn't it?

[HootersGsy]

mike74 said:

For anyone who isn't an unemployed hermit living halfway up a mountain I'd say catching 3 colds in the space of 12 months is pretty average isn't it?

Certainly is for me, not for my wife though. What always seems to happen to me is I work hard, can feel something coming on for a week or two but work hard through it, finally relax at the end of a project/start of holiday/whatever and then it hits me like a freight train. Currently on day 6 of a cold that followed that routine, still massively congested and not happy!

[AI1694]

Some interesting advice and pointers.

No kids, not overweight, take A-Z multivit on most days. However, moved to a new building at work start of this year, where we have an agile working policy. So that could be it. They do provide sanitising wipes to wipe down desk surfaces and keyboards etc.