Boosting immune systems

As I teacher I usually made it to the end of term ( sometimes on automatic pilot for the last day or two) but a day or so into a holiday was flattened by colds so I think Jessm is spot-on.
Today I saw the practice nurse as I've been fighting a chest infection since mid-January.
She thinks it's the last dregs of the infection (as per recent blood test results) but has made a couple of interesting suggestions.
If peak flow readings improve with use of newly-prescribed inhaler then asthma is indicated though it might be short-term. If they don't improve it could be copd -but unlikely as I've never smoked. Try this for 3 weeks then spirometry tests.
Since I so rarely need to visit my doc, I have to say I'm quite impressed by the thoroughness of her questions and suggestions. The lesson I've learned is that I shouldn't have struggled on self-medicating at the start of this. Sometimes we have to ask for help and maybe it should have been sooner rather than later. By trying to avoid the anti-biotics I ended up with 3 courses of them plus steroids.

DD1 tells me that depletes the immune system.

DH has a cold at the moment and I am taking vitamins and proflanavol; also handwashing frequently, as my immune system is low. Fingers crossed too, although that may not help.

Following a very nasty bout of Shingles across my forehead, eye and cheekbone about 6 years ago, my immune system is not what it was. The basics can't be beaten: good varied diet, little alcohol, exercise and fresh air seem to keep things on an even keel. Vit. D, which after blood tests, was found to be almost nil is now, after medication, back to normal levels. Now I just take cod liver oil tabs. daily. Interestingly, not available to buy in France, so buy online.
Feel v. much better all round.

Recently went to London and decided it was better to up my hand-washing.

That's interesting ffinnochio - I had shingles on my forehead and eye some years ago and you've made me wonder if that is connected with the more frequent colds and chest infections that I get now.

Shingles is really horrid isn't it?

I'm still left with sensitive and itching problems around my eyebrow and forehead especially when I'm tired or upset

ffinn and yogagran That's interesting. I had shingles in my head and one eye as well a few years ago, but never associated that with immunity problems - I always just blame everything on the ME! It's a very fetching look, isn't it?! My shingles was misdiagnosed by the GP as an eye infection and I was given antibiotic ointment to put in my eye. It wasn't until I was referred to a specialist that the shingles was diagnosed! Apparently, it's quite common for that to happen - how reassuring

Shingles is a member of herpes family. Apparently in the case of cold sores, this tiny speck of viral protein lurks in the lymph nodes and actually detects when your immune system is low and comes roaring back down the nerve fibres. Not unreasonable to think that shingles does likewise. I seem to remember it is more likely in people with severely compromised immune systems e.g. after chemo. I know my son had it around then.

Once again, spot-on Jess. I can go for months or even a few years, without a cold sore but an infection paves the way for the dreaded tingle and blister. I am so aware of how hideously contagious this bug is. At the first sign of one, I warn everyone around, make absolutely sure no-one uses my handtowels by using obviously odd-coloured ones and nag incessantly about handwashing and contact-NO kisses from gran meantime! Zovirax also helps me.
I'm sure I acquired the virus at a young age from my own mother but am pleased to say I think I've contained it as none of my DC's or DGC's have it.

Ah ha jess. I hadn't thought that shingles may have occurred because of a lowered immune system. If I think back, then that may well be the case, because the run up was unusually hectic and tiring. Anyway, the nasty postherpatic neuralgia I'm left with is usually a v. good indicator in telling me to slow down and rest.

I have a compromised immune system and have had shingles twice (and probably once before very mildly). I dread having it again, but am not eligible for the vaccine as I am not 70 or 79 ( who made that decision?)

You could try again rosequartz a friend who is 72 somehow talked her dr into one!

Can't you have it done privately?

For some time I've been taking echinacea as soon as possible whenever I've come in contact with anyone with a cough/cold. We get ours from Healthspan or Holland an Barratt as it's a good quality and strength. I've not had a proper cold for a couple of years now. Echinacea seems to considerably lessen symptoms at worst and stop a cold in it's tracks at best.

I may do that Soutra, as I asked the practice nurse, not the GP.

Just wondering what, if any side effects there may be.

The week after I asked about DH and me (both the 'wrong' age) he developed shingles.

Auto immune system disease and a low immune system are not the same. My husband suffered from very severe rheumatoid arthritis where the immune system attacks the body. We found that it was triggered, not caused, by certain foods. We kept a food diary and logged when it flared up. It was particularly interesting that tomatoes, peppers, chillies and new potatoes triggered. They are all part of the nightshade family and I think there was probably just enough toxins in them to trigger the immune system. chocolate would trigger it the next day and last a week, but cheese would do so in half an hour and last two days.

To keep your immune system healthy nutrition is the key. You may find this article useful:

www.ageuk.org.uk/health-wellbeing/healthy-eating-landing/foods-to-improve-immunity/

Interesting article Experigran
In the part about beef, it mentions studies on hospital patients and athletes 'both of whom have compromised immune systems'.
Does anyone know why athletes have compromised immune systems? Jess?

Oh dear. That is not a very good article. I take a dim view of nutritionists I'm afraid. If you want a quick answer as to why this is . Which did a report on them that showed up just some of their flaws. Cant find it at the moment but in the meantime it seems that the DM and I are in accord
The term "compromised immune system" is, I believe, normally reserved for people who have a serious problem. e.g. people who have had chemo that has knocked their blood count right down. Or someone with leukaemia whose bone marrow (the production factory for white blood cells, which i prefer to call immune cells) has been taken over by cancerous cells. Or someone in which HIV has attacked parts of their immune system.
Doctors dealing with those patients would fall over laughing if you suggested that athletes are in the same category.
Athletes put stress on their bodies, particularly in events like long distance cycling, marathon running etc. They sometimes get colds after the marathon etc. Their immune system is a little under par. They are the only group that seem to benefit from vitamin c supplements in respect of getting colds.

www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-2103988/The-nutrition-therapists-health-risk.html
Interesting theory experigran. Auto immune disease are indeed caused by one specific aspect of the immune system turning on a specific type of body cell, but little is known about them really.
I agree if someone has had shingles twice worth asking GP if you can have the vaccine. Or maybe if you are prone to cold sores as well, as it shows your immune system does not deal with the herpes family very well. Worth a try.

There is a lot of research done on the autoimmune system diseases as with cancer. I have had a great deal of contact with one particular lady who has worked on researching both of these for many years. She is now in her mid seventies and still researching them. There is no doubt of diet triggering the immune system. If stopping particular foods can suppress the immune system, it must follow that eating certain foods can boost it.

Effects of Overtraining on the Immune System

Reading your link to DM JessM, I'm wondering where you think the snake oil comes from in the article from AgeUK. Surely it is basic healthy eating that is advocated.

oh dear where to start on editing the horrid article. No snake oil as such but it reads like GCSE level stuff. And DH wants to tell me something. Maybe later.

Interesting link aka , inpractical terms they are talking about more colds and coughs. But does not approach the kind of "immunocompromised" conditions I mention above.
No sorry the article on Ageuk is so bad I cannot even start on it. I'll just say that there is no evidence that echinacea is any use at all against colds.

Normally I would only take medication which has gone through proper trials, but I was wondering about echinacea. Having suffered from some sort of upper respiratory tract infection for the last 4 weeks, I think I might try anything. I'm fed up with it!

umm.edu/health/medical/altmed/herb/echinacea

'A review of 14 clinical trials found that echinacea reduced the odds of developing a cold by 58% and the duration of a cold by 1 - 4 days. However, some experts dispute these findings claiming that there were several weaknesses in the analyses. Echinacea preparations tested in clinical trials differ greatly. It is important to choose a high quality echinacea supplement. Talk to your health care provider for recommendations.

Source: Echinacea | University of Maryland Medical Center umm.edu/health/medical/altmed/herb/echinacea#ixzz2yl5UFzhS
University of Maryland Medical Center '

Trials have been done and echinacea has been used for many hundreds of years. Most chemical medication has derived from ancient remedies. What you will find is that, if they cannot be reproduced chemically to make a profit the pharmaceutical companies do not want to know about them and will ridicule them. Although not proven to prevent colds they are shown to reduce the impact of them.

Thank you Experigran. I try to keep an open mind, so may well try it.

Some of these ancient remedies and 'old wives tales' do work. Unfortunately not enough money is spent on researching these as they won't make enough money for the pharmaceutical companies. It is a sad fact that we live in a commercial world. With the advent of antibiotics we have become to rely on them as a cure all. Without an open mind we miss so many things.

Phytopharmacology is providing some new leads in cancer prevention. Most are based on boosting the immune system, rather that damaging it with chemotherapy. There is still much research to be done, but it is hard to get the pharmaceutical Industry to back this. to put it simply, it is the immune system which destroys the rogue cells, but as we age, or abuse our bodies with junk food, it is more difficult for it to deal with them all. Keeping the immune system healthy is the best thing we can do to combat all diseases and what we eat is the key. Healthy eating is not just about weight. Genetic factors do come into it, of course and research has taken a huge leap forward with the cracking of the genetic code. A cure will be found I am sure.