home Diseases Why do people get colds? Constant frequent colds: causes and prevention

Why do people get colds? Constant frequent colds: causes and prevention

The common cold is a collective name for a large group of acute respiratory infections, manifested by catarrhal inflammation of the mucous membranes of the upper respiratory tract and very varied symptoms. If a person has enough good health And good immunity, he gets sick extremely rarely. And an organism with a weakened immune system is a constant source of infection with infected microbes.

In this article we will look at how a cold occurs, what the first signs and symptoms are, as well as what treatment is most effective for adults.

What is a cold?

A cold is a viral infectious disease that affects the upper respiratory tract. Let us immediately note that the term is colloquial, while hidden under it infectious diseases– ARVI (), rarely – .

Infection occurs through airborne droplets or household contact, therefore, it is advisable to be near the infected person in a medical mask and disinfect all surfaces in the room every day.

According to WHO, an adult gets sick with colds three times a year, a schoolchild – about 4 times a year, and a preschooler – up to 6 times a year.

Five percent of those who catch a viral infection develop a cold, and only 75 percent experience symptoms. The same pathogen can cause in someone only mild headache pain, and some have a severe runny nose and cough.

Causes

The cold is a highly contagious infection that easily spreads between people through even a minimal amount of pathogens that enter the covering membranes of the respiratory tract. This contagiousness is explained by the tropism (affinity) of the viral agent for the tissues of the human body.

Among the most common pathogens colds are viruses - rhinoviruses, adenoviruses, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), reoviruses, enteroviruses (), influenza and parainfluenza viruses.

To contract a cold or ARVI, two basic rules must be followed:

weakened immune system
entry into infection.

Weakening of the immune system can occur not only during hypothermia, but also in other situations:

Severe stress. Jar of Hearts and experiences reduce the body's ability to protect itself, so they can lead to serious illness.
Constant overwork. Lack of sleep and excessive stress during work also reduce resistance.
Disorders of the gastrointestinal tract. Proper regular nutrition not only helps control weight, but also helps protect against colds.

Source of infection: more often it is a patient with cold symptoms, sometimes a carrier of a virus (adenovirus, etc.) or bacteria (pneumococcus, Haemophilus influenzae, etc.). The maximum contagiousness is in the first days of the disease, however, the contagious period can begin 1-2 days before the onset of symptoms and lasts 1.5-2, and sometimes more than weeks (for example, adenoviral infection).

By type of infection:

Viral infection It is transmitted only from person to person. That is, before the disease there must have been contact with a sick person.
Bacterial infection can be transmitted not only from person to person. Bacteria are everywhere around us. Sometimes even an acute respiratory disease is caused by those bacteria that have previously lived peacefully inside the body. But the immune system weakened as a result of hypothermia, and an ordinary bacterium caused the disease.

Incubation period of a cold(from infection to the mucous membrane until the first signs appear) is about 2 days.

First signs

Colds rarely start suddenly high temperature body and weakness that “knocks you down.” Usually begins suddenly with a sore throat, followed by other symptoms:

Watery nasal discharge
Sneezing
Increased fatigue and weakness
Cough – dry or wet

Malaise increases gradually, temperature increases during the first day after the onset of cold symptoms. Muscle and joint pain may occur.

Cold symptoms in adults

So, common list The symptoms for any type of cold are:

General weakness, malaise;
Aches in muscles and joints;
Sore and sore throat, redness of the throat;
Cough;
Pain in the eyes, tearing;
Headache;
Increased body temperature up to 38.5°C;
Increased sweating, chills;
Lack of appetite;
Insomnia;
Increase lymph nodes.

During a cold, the functioning of the glands responsible for the separation of protective mucus, which is stored in several cavities of the skull, is disrupted. When the immune system begins to fight viruses, a lot of “waste” is formed - toxins that need to be washed out of the body. As a result, the amount of mucous secretions increases several times, but the glands cannot regulate them normally, so the fluid stagnates in the nasal sinuses.

This is why colds are characterized by both severe runny nose, with the help of which the body seeks to get rid of infection.

In the table, we will look in more detail at each of the symptoms.

	Symptoms
Temperature	Fever during a cold is one of the main signs of the disease. Depending on the size of the numbers, it is customary to distinguish: subfebrile values (37.1-38.0°C), febrile (38.1-39.0°C), pyretic (39.1-40.0°C) and hyperpyretic (above 40.0°C). The temperature reaction depends on the functioning of the human immune system. In one case, it may practically not rise, and in another, it may “jump” sharply already in the first hours of illness.
Intoxication	A symptom caused by exposure of organs and tissues to toxins of pathogens or their own substances produced to fight infection. Intoxication manifests itself in the form of: myalgia (muscle pain), dizziness, weaknesses, nausea, sleep disturbance.
Cough	A cough is rarely the first sign of a cold. Most often, it begins some time after the appearance of a runny nose, sore throat and fever.
A sore throat	Painful sensations can vary in intensity - from tolerable to very strong, making it difficult to swallow food and speak. Patients are also concerned about a sore throat and coughing.
Runny nose	Nasal congestion is not only the first, but also perhaps the main sign of a cold, by which it can be distinguished, for example, from. On the first day of disease progression, the secretion is clear and liquid. The discharge is profuse, quite often causing sneezing, as well as itching in the nose with redness of the eyes. If symptoms such as: Pain to the right and left of the nose, in the bridge of the nose; Nasal voice; Nasal congestion does not go away even after taking medications. This means that an ordinary runny nose has turned into serious complication– sinusitis, etc. in this case, antibiotics must be prescribed.
Headache	It can be constant and intensify with increasing temperature. Excruciating headache is characteristic of exacerbation and is one of the typical symptoms.

On the second or third day, the symptoms begin to subside, and the patient begins to feel better. On the third day, the person with a cold begins to recover. For complete recovery from the moment of illness, it takes 5-7 days, depending on the degree, state of the immune system and the approach to treating the disease.

So, to summarize all of the above, reason to see a doctor if you have a cold should serve:

early childhood patient (up to 3 years old, especially infants);
uncontrollable temperature above 38° for more than 3 days;
unbearable headache, throbbing local headache;
the appearance of a rash on the torso and limbs;
the appearance of a bacterial component of discharge (yellowish and greenish mucus from the nose, sputum, severe sore throat), barking cough;
the appearance of severe weakness and pain in chest when coughing;
elderly patients over 65 years of age;
persons with chronic bacterial foci (sinusitis and others);
people with concomitant diseases(oncology, hematological patients, liver, kidney pathology).

Complications

The cold is a disease in which complete recovery occurs in the vast majority of cases, but complications still occur. The most common is a lingering cold, which means symptoms persist after two weeks.

Possible complications of colds in adults:

Appearance severe pain in one or both ears, hearing loss, increased temperature indicates. Symptoms mean that the infection has spread from the nasal cavity to the ear cavity.
Inflammation paranasal sinuses nose (sinusitis, frontal sinusitis) is another complication of a cold. In this case, the person experiences severe nasal congestion; the runny nose does not go away for a long time, but only worsens. The voice becomes nasal, pain appears at the location of the disease (in the forehead and bridge of the nose, on the left or right side nose).
A cough that worsens at night is typical as a consequence of a cold. At first it may be dry and rough, then it becomes moist and mucus begins to form. With bronchitis, in contrast to and, rough, whistling and buzzing dry wheezing appears, hard breathing, as well as large bubble moist rales.
Complications of a cold include inflammation of the lymph nodes - lymphadenitis. The lymph nodes in the neck are most often affected.

Diagnostics

If you have or only suspect the development of a cold, you should immediately seek advice from doctors such as a general practitioner. A doctor usually diagnoses a cold based on descriptions of symptoms and findings during a physical examination.

Laboratory tests are usually not performed unless there are concerns about another health condition, such as a bacterial disease or potential complications.

Treating a cold at home

Actually healthy body he himself is able to cope with the disease, so all the patient must do is help his body cope with the disease. It is necessary to ensure bed rest, excluding serious physical activity.

There are several rules that should not be broken when treating a cold:

Bed and semi-bed rest. This is necessary for the body to accumulate strength to fight infection, as well as to prevent a secondary infection from joining the person. Also this is preventive measure to prevent the spread of pathogenic microflora in places frequent stay sick;
If going back to work is inevitable, you should beware of increased physical activity, since this can negatively affect the activity of the heart and blood vessels;
Drink plenty of warm drinks– green or black tea, herbal infusions– promotes the removal of toxins from the body;
Balanced diet with an increase in the amount of vitamins, giving up alcohol, spicy, fatty, fried foods. The cooking method is also important - in order not to injure a sore throat, it is better to choose broths, soft foods of moderate temperature that will not irritate the mucous membrane;
You cannot lower the temperature if it has not reached 38 degrees. Although its increase is associated with chills and other unpleasant sensations, it is with its help that the body fights bacteria and viruses. During chills, the body produces interferon, a protein that effectively resists infection. The higher the temperature, the more of it, and the faster body cope with the disease;
When severe congestion nose and cough It is important to position your head higher during the night, that is, sleep in a half-sitting position. With this position of the body, mucus from the nose and cough are much less annoying.

Medicines for treatment

On pharmacy shelves are antiviral drugs prescribed for colds:

We constantly monitor the temperature during a cold, if it does not rise above 38 and you feel normal, do not take antipyretic drugs, heat destroys viruses and microbes. It is necessary to resort to antipyretic medications to treat colds only in cases where the temperature is above 38°C

Common and effective means To lower the temperature, soluble drugs based on paracetamol are used:

Coldrex;
Theraflu;
Fervex;
Pharmacitron.

Nazol – a convenient spray, used 2-3 times a day;
Nazol Advance - convenience in the form of a spray, contains essential oils, applies 2 rubles/day;
Nazivin - convenient forms for adults and infants;
Tizin - drops containing essential oils, effective for viscous nasal discharge.
Lazolvan nasal spray (thin the nasal mucus).
Pinosol ( oil solution) drops and spray.

Reception feature vasoconstrictor drops into the nose: the course should not exceed 5-7 days, otherwise the drugs will stop working, and the nasal mucosa will atrophy.

Antihistamines are medications used to treat allergies. They have a pronounced anti-inflammatory effect, therefore they relieve signs of inflammation: swelling of the mucous membranes, nasal congestion. New generation drugs such as Semprex (Claritin), Zyrtec, Fenistil do not cause drowsiness.

Cough. For a severe dry cough, use: “Codelac”, “Sinekod”. To liquefy sputum - “Ascoril”, “ACC” (ACC). To remove phlegm from the respiratory tract - plantain syrup, "Tussin".

Antibiotics are used only when bacterial complications occur, in relation to viruses they are absolutely useless. Therefore, they are not prescribed during a cold.

The fact is that antibiotics suppress the immune system and destroy beneficial intestinal microflora, so only a specialist can decide whether the expected benefits of using antibiotics outweigh the harm they cause.

Nasal rinsing for colds

Isotonic (saline) solution. The dosage should be 0.5-1 teaspoon per 200 ml boiled water. Salt inhibits growth and reproduction pathogens, thins mucus and promotes its removal.
Soda or iodine-soda solution. Prepared in a similar concentration. Soda creates in the nasal cavity alkaline environment, unfavorable for the growth of colonies of pathogenic microorganisms.

Gargling

To gargle for a cold at home, you can use:

Saline, soda solutions;
Breast preparations prepared independently or purchased at a pharmacy;
Propolis tincture;
Gargle with hydrogen peroxide. It needs to be diluted by taking 2 teaspoons per 50 ml warm water. You need to use the product 3-5 times a day until you feel relief.

Folk remedies

Folk remedies for colds are almost always included in the treatment regimen respiratory diseases, thanks to its beneficial properties.

At the first symptoms, it is useful to prepare for treatment carrot juice and stir in the pulp of 3-5 cloves of garlic. Take the medicine half a glass 3-4 times a day an hour before meals for five days.
Foot baths. If the disease is accompanied by no fever, then mustard can be added to the water. To do this, add one tablespoon of dry powder per 7 liters. Place your feet in the water and hold until the water begins to cool. After this, dry them well and put woolen socks on your feet.
Mix 30 g sea buckthorn oil , 20 g fresh calendula juice, 15 g melted cocoa butter, 10 g honey, 5 g propolis. If you have a runny nose, soak a cotton swab in this mixture and insert it into your nose for 20 minutes.
Pour 1 teaspoon dry crushed dandelion roots with 1 cup of boiling water, leave in a sealed container in a boiling water bath for half an hour, cool, strain. Take in the same way as the infusion for a cold.
Viburnum berry is able to provide unique therapeutic effect. For getting positive effect You can make a decoction from the product using a spoonful of berries in a glass of water. It is advisable to drink the resulting fruit drink warm and with honey.
For a runny nose, instill 3-5 drops of aloe into each nostril 4-5 times a day, tilting your head back and massaging the wings of the nose after instillation.
Relieve sore throat Linden flowers will help get rid of cough. Lime tea: For a mug of water, two teaspoons of linden blossom.

How to protect yourself from colds?

A cold is the result of a temporary decrease in immunity and contact with infection. Accordingly, prevention is aimed at preventing these risk factors.

What can you do to avoid catching a cold?

Avoid crowded places where the risk of infection is much higher.
If possible, stay away from people with colds.
Avoid touching your nose or eyes after you have been in physical contact with someone who is sick.
Wash your hands thoroughly, especially when you have a runny nose.
Ventilate your room well.

If treatment for a cold is not started in time, there is a risk of complications, which over time can develop into chronic diseases. Therefore, take care of yourself, start helping your body at the first symptoms and generally monitor your health all year round.

Frequent colds depress the immune system and worsen not only physical state man, but also his psychological health. They also interfere with professional fulfillment.

Patients often ask the doctor: “Why do I get a cold every month?” This question can only be answered after a comprehensive examination.

The most common causes of frequent colds and acute respiratory viral infections are the following diseases and conditions:

Outbreaks chronic infection.
Unfavorable working conditions.
Iron-deficiency anemia.
Hypothyroidism.
Immunodeficiencies of various origins.

Foci of chronic infection

If in young children frequent acute respiratory infections are the norm due to encounters with new viruses, then this should not be the case in adults. Their body has a sufficient amount of antibodies that were developed during previous contacts with pathogens.

As a rule, when normal operation immunity, an adult gets a cold no more than three to four times a year, and this usually happens during an epidemic of influenza or ARVI.

If diseases occur more often, sanitation of foci of chronic infection is first necessary. To do this, you should visit an otolaryngologist and dentist.

Diseases oral cavity and pharynx most often lead to reactivation of opportunistic microflora under the influence external factors. If a person has chronic rhinitis(runny nose), pharyngitis, tonsillitis or otitis, they will worsen after hypothermia, strong wind, encounters with a viral infection. Caries can also be a provoking factor.

For adequate sanitation of such lesions, bacterial culture from the oropharynx and nasal cavity is necessary to determine the sensitivity of the flora to antibiotics.

If remission is achieved chronic diseases, the frequency of colds is usually significantly reduced.

Unfavorable working conditions

Unfavorable working conditions are the most significant provoking factor. These include:

Monotonous work in a room with high humidity and low air temperature.
Outdoor activities, especially in cold weather and windy weather.
Staying in a draft.
Constant contact with people during the ARVI epidemic.

Frequent illnesses suppress the immune system and provoke repeated exacerbations. Often patients return to work without completing treatment and catch a cold again. In this case, the disease is already more severe. What to do in such a situation?

Changing working conditions to more favorable ones leads to normalization of human health.

Iron-deficiency anemia

A lack of iron in the body is common cause constant colds. But even doctors sometimes forget about this relationship.

However, normalization of blood iron levels very quickly restores immunity and the patient’s resistance to infections increases significantly.

IN at a young age Iron-deficiency anemia more common in women and is associated with the following factors:

heavy menstruation;
pregnancies, especially frequent ones.
blood loss during childbirth.

In men, anemia is caused by chronic hemorrhages - with peptic ulcer stomach, hemorrhoids. This disease requires a thorough examination to determine the source of blood loss. In old age, anemia often accompanies cancer.

Iron deficiency is not always obvious - with a decrease in the number of red blood cells and hemoglobin. In some situations, these indicators are at the lower limit of the norm, but when determining the level serum iron its deficiency is detected in the blood.

Patients with frequent colds must necessarily exclude anemia or hidden iron deficiency.

This pathology also contributes to the protracted course of the disease and often a cold can occur in waves, over several weeks or a month.

Hypothyroidism

Hypothyroidism refers to decreased function thyroid gland. This is an organ endocrine system, which regulates hormonal and general metabolism in the body. Affects thyroid and on the state of immunity.

With insufficient production of its hormones, the defenses weaken and resistance to colds decreases. The patient often has repeated acute respiratory infections, and they can also become complicated. This further depresses the immune system, and without restoring thyroid function, it can be difficult to get out of this cycle.

If a patient has had a cold for a month or more, they should be advised to thyroid-stimulating hormone. Hypothyroidism requires long-term, sometimes lifelong replacement therapy thyroxine (thyroid hormone).

Immunodeficiencies

Frequent colds are often observed in immunodeficiencies of various etiologies. They may be related to:

Congenital deficiency of any part of the immune system.
Immune suppression by influenza virus, Epstein-Barr, cytomegalovirus infection.
Oncopathology.
Taking cytostatics and steroid hormones.
Radiation treatment and chemotherapy.
HIV infection.

Immunodeficiencies are primary and secondary. They manifest themselves frequently as viral or bacterial diseases- depending on the level of damage.

After the flu, immunity can recover on its own after a few weeks. Sometimes additional vitamin supplementation is required.

If frequent illnesses associated with HIV primary immunodeficiencies, consultation indicated related specialists– infectious disease specialist and immunologist.

In a situation where the defenses are suppressed by taking immunosuppressive drugs (hormones, cytostatics), correction of therapy will help.

Frequent and prolonged colds in adults are a sign of trouble in the body. You should definitely see a doctor and undergo a detailed examination to establish an accurate diagnosis.

She's not very serious illness, but her symptoms in the form of a runny nose, cough and body temperature of 37.7 degrees often knock her down and simply do not allow her to move on. After a week, of course, we recover and feel incredible relief, remembering the cold like a bad dream. But how to deal with such a phenomenon as constant colds.

Reasons for the development of persistent frequent colds

No matter how unnatural it may sound, many psychologists argue that the cause of the disease is often uncertainty and low self-esteem. A person endlessly loads himself with work, not giving himself the opportunity to rest. And a cold is perceived as the only true right to a well-deserved rest. But such a lifestyle entails a lack of energy and strength, which does not allow the body to fight viral infections and leads to colds, which develop into a permanent condition of the body. But this is the opinion of psychologists. In addition, there are a number of factors that cause frequent colds.

The main and especially common cause of constant recurring colds is a careless and irresponsible attitude towards oneself and one’s health. The need to run out into the cold as quickly as possible from a warm room is at that moment more important than being one minute late, but nevertheless the opportunity to throw on warm outerwear.

The presence of bad habits is a possible cause of constant colds such as:

Frequent overeating;

Workaholism.

Lack of a healthy lifestyle, constant overwork, inability to eat regularly and properly - all these are also causes of the disease. And there are many more factors that we do not highlight and do not pay enough attention to.

Prevention of persistent colds

If a person’s immunity is severely weakened, then he simply cannot avoid constant illness. Immunity is given to man by nature to protect himself from all sorts of diseases. But humanity has not been able to use this “gift” correctly, and as a result, all children are now born with already weakened immunity. The environment also influences junk food And bad habits. Therefore, to prevent frequent colds, all children need infancy start hardening. This could be activities in the pool, proper massage, daily walks, adherence to proper temperature regime in the apartment, balanced and healthy food, exercises for development physical health. All this contributes proper development and strengthening the necessary immunity. Which means absolutely healthy man will be able to forget about such a disease as a cold.

Currently, there are more than 460 items in our country various drugs for the prevention of disease from more than 20 countries. But their action does not always effectively restore and strengthen the immune system, often only, on the contrary, weakening it.

Tips for preventive treatment frequent colds

In addition to the above medications necessary for the prevention of frequent colds and strong immunity, there are several more points that every adult and every parent should take into account.

You need to drink more fluid. Water washes the human body, re-degrades and removes toxins.

Fresh air. It is necessary to regularly ventilate the room, this is very important, since with central heating of the room, the mucous membrane becomes drier, as a result of which the human body becomes more vulnerable to influenza and cold viruses.

Charger. Exercise will help protect the body from frequent colds. It helps accelerate the exchange of oxygen between circulatory system and lungs. Charging exercises promote an increase in the so-called killer cells in the human body.

Fortified food. Must be eaten large quantity red, dark green and yellow fruits and vegetables.

Say no to alcohol to prevent frequent colds. Just like nicotine, alcohol abuse greatly reduces the human immune system.

Know how to relax. If you learn to relax, you will be able to activate your immune system. After all, when the human body is in a relaxed state, the amount of interleukins increases in the bloodstream, which are responsible for the immune response in defense against influenza and cold viruses.

How to treat regular frequent colds?

Many people who are prone to frequent colds try to cure them, without even trying to find out the root cause of such diseases. After all, getting rid of the irritant that regularly affects the resumption of colds in the body will allow you to get rid of such an illness forever. Pay attention great attention your health, allow yourself a break from work, because you won’t earn all the money, even if you devote yourself entirely to this process. Every person deserves the right to healthy image life, with small joys and the right to regular good rest, and no one is an exception.

There are often cases when constant cold is the first symptom of some more serious disease. Psychotherapists won’t let you lie about this: constant colds for neurotics are a sad and harsh life norm. Also, constant colds may indicate that the sick person suffers from low self-esteem. He works tirelessly, not allowing himself to enjoy life and breathe full breasts. Such people subconsciously program themselves for illness, considering them the only possible reason for rest.

Treating the disease in such cases is a futile exercise. The first thing you need to do is deal with psychological reasons colds, become more self-confident, start loving yourself and being proud of yourself. And finally, give yourself the right to regular entertainment and relaxation. Then constant illnesses will be a mere memory.

Frequent colds may have various reasons, ranging from "worrying" to "very serious". Finding the true cause of frequent colds means ruling out or confirming every possibility - in other words, making a diagnosis.

Diagnosis is usually difficult process due to the huge number possible reasons and symptoms associated with frequent colds, however, the main factors can be grouped into a small group:

Below we will talk in detail about some of the reasons why you have frequent colds

Frequent colds are constant viral attacks

The most common cold viruses are called rhinoviruses (40% of all colds). By and large, the most important thing you should know about cold viruses is that rhinoviruses are real fans of cold weather. Rhinoviruses reproduce (produce offspring) fastest at a body temperature of 33-35 ° C. This simply means that if your body temperature is low, you are more likely to end up carrying the common cold virus. Coronaviruses cause about 20% of colds, while respiratory syncytial virus and parainfluenza virus cause 10% of colds

Constant colds love a cold body

The main changes in body temperature throughout the day depend on your activity level. Typically, body temperature is lowest in the morning. This is the best time to measure your body temperature. Lie quietly in bed under the covers, do nothing, just relax and take the measurement. Temperatures below 36.5°C may contribute to recurring colds. Don't be surprised if you see 34.5°C or 35.5°C on your thermometer. Such low temperatures are common for people with metabolic problems and weak immune systems.
You may not be aware, but some foods can make your body colder. Below is a chart of cold and heat foods so you can always remember which foods to avoid if you are prone to constant colds.

Environment can cause frequent colds

The cold of the body and the environment can “complement” each other. If you often get colds, using air conditioning and traveling to Salekhard may not be on your list of priorities. The environment plays a big role in your health. Where you work and where you live can have a significant impact on how often you get colds. If you work in an air-conditioned room where the cold wind blows directly at you, you will be more prone to catching colds. If you live in a cold, damp climate, this certainly doesn't help strengthen your immune system. The damp cold is very dangerous factor risk for those people who have frequent colds.

Constant colds? Check products

The foods you choose also affect your body temperature. That's why you shouldn't eat salads in winter, and it's wise not to forget about chili peppers. Traditional Chinese medicine very wise when it comes to energy and food. Cold people should avoid cold foods: wheat, tomatoes, citrus fruits, bananas, yogurt, and cucumber. Instead, they should consume more warm foods: garlic, ginger, cinnamon, oats, lamb, trout, coconut. If you don’t understand the rules of food energy, you can make things worse for yourself. You may think you are eating healthy food, but energetically it does not meet your needs. For example, yogurt for breakfast, salad for lunch and a sandwich white bread, will make you colder in the future. This is the menu good idea for heat, but this is bad news if you have recurring colds.

Hypoglycemia and frequent colds

Low sugar, a condition called hypoglycemia, is a common reason for cooling off, but that doesn't mean you need to kick it up a notch. Low blood sugar is not due to low level sugar in the diet, but due to the inability to maintain stable blood sugar levels in the liver. There are several causes of hypoglycemia. Although hypoglycemia is one of the causes of persistent colds, we hope this situation does not apply to you.

Allergies and frequent colds

Low sugar can also happen after eating a food that you are allergic/sensitive to. Your sudden yawning, drowsiness, or low energy could simply be a sign that your body's sugar levels are low. Check your temperature at the time of these symptoms and see if it has dropped. Remember that not every food allergy and intolerance causes your body temperature to drop, but it does in some cases. Keep a list of foods that cause your temperature to drop handy - avoiding these foods can prevent your body from becoming unnecessarily cool and thus minimize the incidence of colds.

A weakened immune system causes frequent colds

Weakened immunity means that a person's immune system is unable to fight antigens. Antigens are harmful substances like:

IN healthy body, the invading antigen meets with antibodies, proteins that destroy harmful substances. However, in some people, the immune system does not work as well as it should and is unable to produce effective antibodies to prevent illness, particularly the common cold.
You may inherit immune system disorders or they may come from malnutrition (not getting enough vitamins and nutrients). Any immune system also tends to weaken with age. Therefore, older people get colds more often than middle-aged people.

Poor hygiene and frequent colds

Dirty hands “pick up” constant colds

Your hands come into contact with many germs throughout the day. If you don't wash your hands regularly and then touch your face, lips, or food, you can spread viruses and infect yourself.

Simply washing your hands with running water and antibacterial soap for 20 seconds will help you stay healthy and avoid illnesses caused by viruses and bacteria. Use disinfectants for hands when pure water and soap are not available.

Clean countertops, doorknobs, and electronics surfaces (like your phone, tablet, and computer) with wipes when you're sick. To prevent frequent colds, you need to wash your hands:

before and after cooking
before meals
before and after caring for a sick person
before and after wound treatment
after using the bathroom
after changing diapers or helping a child
after coughing, sneezing or blowing your nose
after touching animals or handling waste or food
after processing the garbage

Poor oral health and frequent colds

Teeth are not only the mirror of your health, but also the door to your body, and your mouth is a safe haven for good and bad bacteria. When you're not sick, your body's natural defenses keep your mouth healthy. Daily brushing and flossing also removes dangerous bacteria and viruses. But when pests get out of control, it can make you sick and cause inflammation and problems elsewhere in your body.

Long-term, chronic problems with the oral cavity may have big consequences. Poor health dental problems are associated with several problems, including:

heart diseases
premature birth
low birth weight
endocarditis (infection during inner shell hearts)
constant colds
Problems gastrointestinal tract

To maintain healthy teeth and gums, you should brush and floss at least twice a day (especially after meals) and visit your dentist regularly.

Hypothyroidism and persistent colds

The term means low function thyroid gland. Hypothyroidism probably affects hundreds of thousands of people, but diagnosis is not always easy or straightforward. Clinical signs and symptoms of hypothyroidism include many health problems, including such as a persistent cold or flu:

Low body temperature (as mentioned above, low temperature body affects the rate at which cold viruses multiply), dry skin/hair (red hair is at particular risk for hypothyroidism), inappropriate weight gain and/or inability to lose weight, brittle nails, insomnia and/or narcolepsy, short term memory and poor concentration, fatigue, headaches and migraines, premenstrual syndrome and related problems and violations menstrual cycle, depression, hair loss (including eyebrows), low motivation and ambition, cold hands and feet, fluid retention, dizziness, irritability, skin problems/infections/ acne, infertility, dry eyes/blurred vision, heat and/or cold intolerance, low blood pressure, increased level cholesterol, digestive problems (irritable bowel syndrome, heartburn, constipation, etc.), poor coordination, decreased sex drive, decreased or excessive sweating, frequent colds/sore throats, asthma/allergies, slow healing, itching, recurrent infections, food intolerance, increased susceptibility to abuse psychoactive substances, anxiety attacks/panic attacks, yellow-orange discoloration of the skin (especially the palms), yellow bumps on the eyelids, slow speech, fluid in the ears, etc.

Adrenal fatigue and frequent colds

Although adrenal fatigue resembles hypothyroidism in some aspects, there are significant differences between the conditions. Hypothyroidism usually occurs with a number of key symptoms, although each person experiences thyroid dysfunction differently. In the case of adrenal fatigue, individual experiences are even more varied because metabolism is dependent on the adrenal glands. The circadian nature of adrenal function often means that certain times of the day/night will be more troublesome than others; This circadian pattern is not observed in thyroid problems. More common symptoms of adrenal fatigue are listed below:

Loss of energy in different time per day
anxiety
Sugar/salt cravings
Poor appetite in the morning
sensitivity to loud noises
sleep disorders
episodes of hypoglycemia
frequent colds/infections
palpitations/chest pain
thin, brittle nails

Similarities between adrenal fatigue and hypothyroidism

It may be noted that many of the symptoms of hypothyroidism were present in cases of confirmed adrenal fatigue and vice versa. This is the intrinsic connection between the thyroid and adrenal glands, often referred to as the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal thyroid axis. Both of these glands are associated with energy production, and their work balances each other.

Denial of responsibility : The information presented in this article about common colds is intended to inform the reader only and is not a substitute for consultation with a healthcare professional.

Lately many people have been complaining about constant weakness and fatigue, illness up to 10 times a year. Question: I get sick often: what should I do? - they ask doctors, friends, traditional healers. If you are one of those “lucky” ones, let’s try together to find the answer to this pressing question.

Insidious viruses

The leading disease among diseases is, of course, the cold. It is especially prevalent in the autumn-winter-spring period. And this? of the year! What could be the reason?

The answer is simple - viruses. But common colds from hypothermia are rare. But how can you protect yourself from these nasty viruses if you can’t count them? And, without having time to recover from one, the organism, weakened by the previous “invader,” falls into the clutches of another.

Rule No. 1 – be sure to complete your treatment. We rush to work as soon as we feel the slightest improvement in our condition. And the absence of fever is not always an indicator of recovery. It is known that viruses remain active for 5 days. After this, another three days must pass for the body to cope with them.

Diseases of the nasopharynx

Increased susceptibility to viruses is facilitated by the presence of chronic diseases - the gastrointestinal tract, genitourinary system, nasopharynx (tonsillitis, sinusitis, etc.). Those with chronic troubles should focus all their efforts on combating them. For example, if your throat often hurts, what should you do? For prevention, you need to gargle with a solution sea salt, decoctions of chamomile, calendula; use tinctures of eucalyptus and propolis (a few drops per glass of water).

IN advanced cases (purulent plugs) otolaryngologists recommend washing the tonsils twice a year. It is performed by a doctor manually or using a vacuum method using the Tosillor apparatus.

If there is a purulent component, you need to take a smear for staphylococci and streptococci. It is possible that antibiotic treatment will be needed. But antimicrobial agents Also, don't get carried away. The body gets used to them frequent use, and the immune system is weakened.

What is immunity and how to fight for it

Immunity is the human body’s ability to resist various infections, viruses, foreign substances.

When this ability is impaired, doctors talk about immunodeficiency. There are many reasons for it: unfavorable environmental conditions, poor quality nutrition, long-term use medications, stress, poisoning, bacterial and viral infections and etc.

If you suspect immunodeficiency, it is better to consult an immunologist. He may recommend testing, such as an immunogram. This is a blood test from a vein, showing the number of leukocytes, lymphocytes, immunoglobulins - cells and molecules responsible for the body’s ability to repel attacks from viruses and bacteria.

Based on the test results, treatment is prescribed ( vitamin preparations, immunomodulators).

Folk remedies to strengthen the immune system

You can increase your body's resistance by traditional methods. Among them, a large role is given to hardening procedures. If you thought that we're talking about about dousing ice water and walking barefoot in the snow - don’t be scared. Hardening includes a daily portion fresh air And physical activity. Those. Morning and evening jogging may well combine these two points. It is also important to maintain cleanliness and humidity in the room (drying out the mucous membranes increases their susceptibility to viruses). All these tips can be given to parents who are wondering: if a child is often sick, what to do?

To avoid stuffing the child chemical vitamins and medications, it is better to use natural immunostimulants: onion, garlic, honey. The diet should include fresh vegetables and fruits all year round.

Infection with worms or protozoa (giardia) also causes frequent illnesses in children. You need to get tested for their presence. At the end of summer, it is advisable to take antihelminthics for prevention.

Nerves as a reason

Diseases can appear from nervous overstrain. So, the question is: I often have a headache, what should I do? – This is usually asked by people whose work schedule is characterized by increased intensity. This leads to overwork and lack of sleep - hence the headaches. To get rid of them, it is enough to learn to relax (go to nature, go to the theater, i.e. change the environment). You can drink sedatives herbal teas. But if headaches do not go away, it is better to consult a doctor. After all, their cause may be vascular problems(eg hypertension).

Frequent illnesses can be caused by psychological problems: feeling of dissatisfaction, conflict situations. Problems at school can have an impact on a child's health. This doesn't mean he's pretending to be sick to avoid going to class. Conflicts with teachers, peers, and falling behind in subjects can contribute to a weakened immune system. Therefore, parents whose children are often sick need to find out what their child’s state of mind is.

We hope that after reading this article, the problem is: I get sick very often, what should I do? - will torment you much less often.