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Why am I always getting colds?

Posted , 3 users are following.

jessica04375
jessica04375

I am 21yo student. I get colds a lot - for example, last term I was ill for two weeks, then at the end of term ill for another two weeks. Now, weeks later, I am feeling unwell again. It's never anything serious, I never even get stomach bugs or flu, it's always just a cold that gives me a headache, sore throat, blocked nose, and generally feeling tired and weak. I eat a healthy diet, take vitamin+iron tablets every day, exercise 3 times a week. I drink loads of water which I means I end up washing my hands a lot too. I guess I'm more stressed at the moment due to uni work but I always got colds a lot, even during holidays and when I was still at school. Does anyone have ANY advice or ideas as to why I'm always so ill? It's far more than any of my friends and it often means I miss out on stuff. Oh, and I don't take drugs or smoke, I drink but no more than any other typical student.

Thank you!

0 likes, 7 replies

7 Replies

  • DawnDedee
    DawnDedee jessica04375

    Posted

    Hi Jessica,

    Perhaps getting in with an allergy specialist would benefit you.  Allergic reactions can mimic a cold and cause fatigue.   Begin with your GP and go from there.  As we age, even as young as 20, our bodies change and all kinds of predisposed genetic conditions can show up and surprise us.

    It is good that you drink lots of water.  Also, on here is a forum entitled Alternative Medicine. ...not sure of the exact words, but there is a rich wealth of knowledge shared there and you might want to consider posting on there also.

    Besides that, consider a salt water solution nasal spray or irrigation.  It would be beneficial to gargle with warm salt water several times a day to keep your throat healed since sinus drainage inflames the throat.

    Hope a part of this helps you.

    Dawn 

      

    • jessica04375
      jessica04375 DawnDedee

      Posted

      Hi Dawn, thanks for the advice, I don't know of any allergies I may have so it's possible that I just have an undiagnosed one!
  • chris03990
    chris03990 jessica04375

    Posted

    Hi there, you mention the dreaded word term so I imagine you are in an educational institution of some sort. All my life I suffered from one cold after another, as a student, a child and a teacher, out of term time there was some respite but same old thing once back at school!  Since I have retired I never get a cold. Things started to I prove for me when I was introduced  to echinacea tincture which is a natural alpine plant which boosts the immune system. It was discovered by a Swiss scientist called Vogel, research I did suggested he lived well into his 90 s and  took the tincture himself  to help his own immune system.  I have never looked back since taking it myself. It can be used when you gave a cold for quick recovery or better still the  bio force brand which is vogels  own one, is better taken as a once daily supplement to ward off colds. I start taking it in September at start of term and the bottle will last through till spring when you may not need it so it's far more economical than having colds and having to buy cold remedies that don't work. I got my husband onto it in winter as he does not get paid when he is ill. If you come in contact with anyone who has a bad cold or feel like you might get one, just go onto the 2-3 times a day doses for a day or two till this feeling passes.  I have been about 15 years now and not had a full blown cold or flu since I started.
    • jessica04375
      jessica04375 chris03990

      Posted

      Thanks Chris, this sounds really interesting, I will look it up! And yes I am in my final year of uni so constantly surrounded by different people.
  • chris03990
    chris03990 jessica04375

    Posted

    Another thought, if you have a runny nose rather than a cold all the time, it may possibly be due to a dairy sensitivity which you can check out by excluding dairy for two weeks, but to do this you must check it is a t Italy exclusion , watch hidden dairy by avoiding processed foods.
  • hannah5594
    hannah5594 jessica04375

    Posted

    Hi Jessica,

    I was wondering if you ever found a solution to your constant colds. I am in the same position as you and nothing I try works! I'm 21 and always suffered quite badly. I am considering trying the echinacea tincture or even just going to my GP. I've heard it can be to do with your sinuses rather than immune system? 

    Hope you feel better now, smile

    Hannah

    • jessica04375
      jessica04375 hannah5594

      Posted

      Hi Hannah. It's actually gotten better since leaving University, maybe in the world of work people are more hygienic! actually the advice above of taking echinacea really worked for me too. I guess there's always a chance it's placebo, but honestly when I've had a cold in the past year I just start taking a couple of the tablets (from amazon) 2 or 3 times a day and the symptoms seem to go away within a week, whereas before sometimes I'd have a cold for longer. It's worth a try anyway, hope it works for you! Of course it could be to do with your sinuses, if you're concerned then maybe best to ask your GP just in case.

      Jess

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