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Suggest Treatment For Recurrent Cold And Infection
Question: Hi - I am a 32 year old female with a 14 month old baby. I keep catching every cold she catches (yes, she is in daycare). I read that the average adult gets 2-4 colds per year. For me? It's around 4-6 colds per year. Is this normal? Could there be something wrong with me? I had a physical in July and bloodwork that came back "perfect" per my doctor. I am becoming a bit paranoid about it, but not sure what else I can do.
Brief Answer:
green vegetables and dark berries
Detailed Answer:
Hi
Since your blood result was normal you do not need to worry.
I will advise you to take bright green, yellow and orange vegetables because they have the highest amounts of carotenoids like beta carotene which will boost your immunity and prevent you from catching cold.
These are antioxidants which help your immune system to keep in shape.
Try vegetables such as capsicum, carrots and squash.
I will also advise you to eat berries.
Vitamin C is present in berries in very large amounts. Vitamin C is thought to prevent injury to cells and is therefore very useful in boosting your immune system.
Dark berries in particular contain large doses of bioflavonoids that can act as antioxidants which will attack the free radicals moving around your body.
You should consume mixed berries as it is thought they all work together to improve your immune system.
Regards
DR DE
green vegetables and dark berries
Detailed Answer:
Hi
Since your blood result was normal you do not need to worry.
I will advise you to take bright green, yellow and orange vegetables because they have the highest amounts of carotenoids like beta carotene which will boost your immunity and prevent you from catching cold.
These are antioxidants which help your immune system to keep in shape.
Try vegetables such as capsicum, carrots and squash.
I will also advise you to eat berries.
Vitamin C is present in berries in very large amounts. Vitamin C is thought to prevent injury to cells and is therefore very useful in boosting your immune system.
Dark berries in particular contain large doses of bioflavonoids that can act as antioxidants which will attack the free radicals moving around your body.
You should consume mixed berries as it is thought they all work together to improve your immune system.
Regards
DR DE
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
You say, if my blood results are normal I do not have to worry. What could or would blood work indicate as a reason for having so many colds? I always seem to be a bit more prone to colds, but I have always had excellent blood work results. Is this simply a function of diet and stress then?
Brief Answer:
Stress and improper nutrition
Detailed Answer:
Hi
Though your blood work is normal you may have a low immune system due to stress and not doing enough exercise.
Stress causes the immune system to work harder to defend the body against threats to health, at times suppressing the immune system to such a point that it is severely compromised.
Regular exercise can help the functions of neutrophils, which are cell types that work to kill unwanted and sometimes dangerous microorganisms that can negatively affect health.
It may also be due to lack of sleep.
While you’re sleeping the cells in your blood that fight infections are working to keep infections at bay. So lack of sleep and fatigue can weaken your immune system.
Poor diet, especially when combined with lack of exercise weakens the immune system.
Its vital to eat a well balanced assortment of foods including fruits, vegetables and whole grain sources that help support the immune system by providing crucial vitamins, minerals, phytochemicals and antioxidants.
Just as crucial, fatty junk foods should be avoided whenever possible.
Fats, particularly polyunsaturated fats, tend to suppress the immune system.
Also be on the lookout for the consumption of too much sugar, which can inhibit phagocytosis, the process by which white blood cells work to destroy viruses and bacteria.
If you have no more clarifications then please rate the answer and close the thread.
Regards
DR DE
Stress and improper nutrition
Detailed Answer:
Hi
Though your blood work is normal you may have a low immune system due to stress and not doing enough exercise.
Stress causes the immune system to work harder to defend the body against threats to health, at times suppressing the immune system to such a point that it is severely compromised.
Regular exercise can help the functions of neutrophils, which are cell types that work to kill unwanted and sometimes dangerous microorganisms that can negatively affect health.
It may also be due to lack of sleep.
While you’re sleeping the cells in your blood that fight infections are working to keep infections at bay. So lack of sleep and fatigue can weaken your immune system.
Poor diet, especially when combined with lack of exercise weakens the immune system.
Its vital to eat a well balanced assortment of foods including fruits, vegetables and whole grain sources that help support the immune system by providing crucial vitamins, minerals, phytochemicals and antioxidants.
Just as crucial, fatty junk foods should be avoided whenever possible.
Fats, particularly polyunsaturated fats, tend to suppress the immune system.
Also be on the lookout for the consumption of too much sugar, which can inhibit phagocytosis, the process by which white blood cells work to destroy viruses and bacteria.
If you have no more clarifications then please rate the answer and close the thread.
Regards
DR DE
Note: Consult an experienced Otolaryngologist / ENT Specialist online for further follow up on ear, nose, and throat issues - Book a Call now.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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