Why can’t you shake the common cold?

Why can't you shake the common cold?

If you're prone to recurrent cold and flu infections, then perhaps you've decided enough is enough! It's time to consider why you might be getting ill so often, and finally do something about it! Here I run through some reasons you may not be able to shift symptoms of the cold, and what can be done to make a difference.

Why can’t you shake the common cold?

If you seem to go from having one cold infection to the next, then there are likely to be some underlying factors which could be at play, such as:

You haven't properly recovered
Deficiencies are lurking
Hectic lifestyles are putting you more at risk

Throughout this blog I go into these themes in more detail, and explain what you can do to help yourself shake stubborn cold infections once and for all.

1 - You haven’t properly recovered

It's a well-known fact that people should take some down-time in order to recover after infections such as the flu, but are we actually practicing this? Through the A.Vogel Helpline we often hear people admitting that they haven't taken the proper time to recover and surprise, surprise, they soon regret it as they end up feeling worse than ever.

In some cases, such as with more severe, flu-like infections, you may have no choice in the matter but to relax, as you suddenly find you are literally zapped of all energy. However, even when it comes to some less taxing infections such as common colds, you should still take it easier than usual, both during the infection, and in your recovery. Whilst it might not be obvious, your immune system will still be working away hard in the background, trying desperately to get you feeling back to normal. Therefore, if you do much, too soon, your immune system might not have the time or resources to set everything quite right.

Exercise, for example, is perhaps one more obvious consideration. While moderate exercise is definitely good for most people to engage in frequently; whilst you're recovering from an infection, it often isn't the time to push yourself too hard! It's been well documented in research that athletes pushing their bodies to extremes risk having more depleted immune functions.¹ And whilst you are relying on your immune system so heavily during recovery from infection, any over-exertion could have some similar, detrimental effects.

In terms of proper recovery, I'd also like to touch on the topic of treating the infection with different medicines. If you have been attempting to treat the infection, yet continue to keep falling ill, then there is the possibility that you aren't getting it quite right in terms of your approach.

Antibiotics, for one, only treat bacterial infections, therefore, these won't work on the majority of viruses which contribute to cold and flu infections. So, if in doubt, always double check with your doctor to ensure your treatment approach is appropriate, and likely to be effective.

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2. Deficiencies are lurking

If you're consistently ill, it could also be an indication that you could benefit from some nutrient support. Essential nutrients including vitamin C, zinc and vitamin D help to keep your immune system ticking over, therefore, a deficiency in any of these nutrients could potentially put you at risk.
This means that they can, indirectly, help how different parts of the immune system operate. From how your immune system responds initially (which can translate into the severity of your symptoms), to how quickly you are able to recover, and how likely you are to pick up any subsequent infections!
So, some all-round nutrient support, with a product such as our Balance Mineral Drink, is definitely high-up on my list of to-dos, in order to help achieve optimal immune system health. Watch my self-care video below to find out how your nails could actually be indicative of your nutrient status!

My Self-Care Tip: Keep an eye on the health of your nails as an indication of overall health

Here I explain how the appearance of your nails could help to give a quick indication of your health.

3. Hectic lifestyles practices are putting you more at risk

Even if you have allowed for some proper recovery time, if you then go back to your old ways, and re-employ any of the original habits which may have contributed to you getting ill in the first place, you could be putting yourself at risk all over again!

Here are some areas of your life which you might want to give some thought:

Managing stress

Chronic stress can be counter-intuitive if you are banking on relying on some steadfast immune responses. In times of stress, your body gives priority to some other areas which are considered vital in the here and now and, unfortunately, immune functions don't always fall into this category.

In the short-term, this is fine - we can cope with depleted immune functions very temporarily, but if we're in a more stressful state, day after day, this is when it could start to take its toll. If this is the case, stress management techniques may need to be given more airtime.

Sleep well

If you struggle with recurrent infections, considering the quality of your sleep is an important avenue to explore. Sleep is regenerative and immune-boosting, particularly if you're able to get some good-quality shut-eye in the earlier part of the evening.
So, if it takes you a while to switch off, a remedy such as Dormeasan may need to be added to your immune-boosting tool kit.

Keep hydrated

Hydration is important to support every inch of your body but, especially if you are prone to infections, it's one area of your life I'd recommend giving some focus.
At the time of an infection, especially depending on your symptoms, you can more easily become more dehydrated as a result of having a raised temperature, sickness, diarrhoea, or even simply some excess mucus production. On that note, we really rely on this excess mucus, in order to help expel any invading bugs from your respiratory tract (hence all the streaming nose, sneezing and coughing!). Therefore, we need to be drinking enough to help facilitate this process.
Then, in terms of your immune system itself, proper hydration is needed to help keep your circulation healthy - just exactly where your little immune army are residing. So, my advice is to get back to drinking water, if this is a habit that has fallen by the wayside recently.