Colds and Coughs

[Otrere]

I eat healthily, I take multivitamins and vitamin C, I have lots of garlic etc. (yes I smell lovely!) but have had colds and coughs on and off for the last 4-5 months.

In fact I ended up in hospital with pneumonia last month and now I have another cold/cough which has lasted for 2 weeks and am on antibiotics.

I have seen the doctor and they say that I have just been unlucky and caught one virus after another and that due to all the colds I have had my immune system is really low and that is why I keep catching them.

But its really getting me down now and I am fed up with being consistently ill. Can anyone please tell me how I can further boost my immune system so that I can have at least a couple of months respite from these germs!!!

Thanks.

[El D]

exercise boosts the immune system through stimulation of the lymphatic system. Alternatively taking a few deep breaths throughout the day also helps.

[purplefish]

try taking echinacea, its supposed to boost your immune system, its available in tablet or liquid form, from places like holland and barrett :o)

[Loosehead]

The immune system, like the rest of the body, needs exercise. It seems to be the case that in recent times the over use of antibiotics and obsessive hygene rules have removed the conditions that keep the immune system strong this coupled with ever more resilient bacterea have got us into a sort of Biological arms race.

 Vitamin C is good as is exersize but the main thing to stop this in the long run is to stop taking antibiotics, let your own system fight the infection. It will be hard at first but over time you'll find the colds are less frequent and clear up easily.

I never take any pills potions etc and on the rare occasions I get a cold I just ignore it and it goes away within a couple of days. If it's particularly stubborn I go down the Gym for a good hard workout and soon feel better.

[Otrere]

I haven't had antibiotics for months and months but my recent bout of pneumonia follwed by a chest infection have meant that I have needed them. I have over the last 4-5 months let my body fight it off naturally but it doesn't seem to have improved matters as I have still been getting colds/coughs each time getting worse and lingering for longer.

Thanks anyway.

[Englishbird]

Echinacea, echinacea, echinacea.  Can't recommend it enough.  I wasn't as bad as you, but last year had about 3 bouts of flu and was getting so fed up with it.  I even stopped planning things for fear of being ill all the time.  I started taking Echinacea last November and I also take Vit C and zinc (your body needs zinc to absorb Vit C and other vitamins).  i had a few sniffles a couple of weeks ago, but concidering everyone else i know is laid up with something, I'm probably the healthiest person around!! I was very sceptical to start with, but it has worked for me (and it was recommended by the chemist!) Good luck, i know how depressing it can be.

[Casey]

I think Centrum is an excellent multi vitamin and mineral. I was advised to start taking it by the chemist, I would get tonsilitis every few weeks and then I had an operation on my stomach and felt really run down when I was recovering. I started taking Centrum and haven't been ill once since last summer!! (touch wood)