Bit of a tangent, but has anyone made any lifestyle changes that have had a significant (anecdotal) increase to their immune system? I eat quite healthily and do regular sports, yet my immune system seems quite bad compared to other people I know.
* Limit alcohol intake - binging lowers your immune response and makes you more susceptible to viruses.
* Eat a lot of different foods, in moderation.
* Keep hydrated throughout the day - alcohol, coffee and softdrink (soda) will dehydrate you.
* Remember basic hygiene - get in the habit of washing your hands all the time. Sneeze into your elbow (sigh, yes there's arguments around this too). You don't have to be a germaphobe (sp?).
I've got a routine down now for when I start to get sick. As soon as you feel like you're getting sick (how do you know? take time to note what you feel like when you're healthy. Note the differences):
* Stop all caffeine/acohol intake. Seriously.
* Hydration like crazy: 2L plus of water, plus some hydralyte once/twice a day
* If I'm coughing: ventolin several times per day (as per dr's orders)
* Sinus rinses (I don't like neti pots, there's alternatives) twice daily
* Nasonex in each nostril twice daily
* Sleep. Lots of it.
* Go to the doctor ASAP and get them to diagnose it. Sometimes they will say "wait a week!" other times it is anti-b's / other stuff.
* Get time off work. Depends on work. But, its a bit of a no-brainer when we've had as bad a flu season as we've had.
Again, YMMV.
1) I think not having kids might play a part, as every parent of young kids I know always seems to be catching stuff from them. Edit: maybe the stress of having young kids also plays a part.
2) I don't think it's the food I eat as I eat a pretty poor diet, but I do wonder if it might be the amount of food I eat as it's relatively little (I'm at the low end of the healthy BMI range), and scholar seems to have a few studies relating constant CR to a better immune system.
3) I'm a lifelong public transport user. One the one hand people say this might help build up the immune system but it doesn't quite fit with 1).
4) I avoid touching stuff like public door handles and taps.
5) Obligatory Simpsons explanation https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aI0euMFAWF8
If I feel a little off, I'll take Vitamin C and Lysine as early preventive measures. The rest of my healthy habits are quite subpar. I exercise frequently, but I eat garbage and I sleep even worse. Averaging about once a year in being sick?