Why Am I Always Sick?

[Rasel Ali]

What’s making you sick?
There isn’t anyone who hasn’t gotten a cold or virus just days before a big event. For some people, being sick is a way of life, and days of feeling well are few and far between. Getting rid of sniffles, sneezing, and headaches may seem like a dream, but it’s possible. However, you have to first know what’s making you sick.

You are what you eat
“An apple a day keeps the doctor away” is a simple saying that holds some truth. If you don’t eat a well-rounded, balanced diet, your body can’t function at its best. A poor diet also increases the risk of various illnesses.

Good nutrition is about getting the nutrients, vitamins, and minerals that your body needs. Different age groups have different nutritional needs and requirements, but the same general rules apply to people of all ages:

Eat a variety of fruits and vegetables daily.
Choose lean proteins over fatty ones.
Limit your daily intake of fats, sodium, and sugars.
Eat whole grains whenever possible.
Vitamin D
If you get sick often, you may find it helpful to boost your intake of vitamin D. A recent study found that vitamin D supplements might make a person less likely to have an acute respiratory tract infection. Vitamin D deficiency has also been linked to a weakened immune system. Increase your vitamin D intake with foods such as fatty fish, egg yolks, and mushrooms. Being outside for 10–15 minutes each day is another way to reap the benefits of this “sunshine vitamin.” According to the Office of Dietary Supplements, most adults should aim for at least 15 micrograms (mcg) each day. It’s safe for most adults to consume up to 100 mcg each day.

Dehydration
Every tissue and organ within the body depends on water. It helps carry nutrients and minerals to cells, and keeps your mouth, nose, and throat moist — important for avoiding illness. Even though the body is made up of 60 percent water, you lose fluids through urination, bowel movements, sweating, and even breathing. Dehydration occurs when you don’t adequately replace the fluids you lose.

Mild to moderate dehydration is sometimes difficult to identify, but it can make you sick. Symptoms of mild to moderate dehydration can be mistaken for general aches and pains, fatigue, headache, and constipation. Both acute and chronic dehydration can be dangerous, even life-threatening. Symptoms include:

extreme thirst
sunken eyes
headache
low blood pressure, or hypotension
fast heartbeat
confusion or lethargy
The treatment is simple: sip water all day long, especially in hot or humid conditions. Eating foods with a high water content, such as fruits and vegetables, also keeps you hydrated throughout the day. As long as you urinate regularly and don’t feel thirsty, you’re likely drinking enough to stay hydrated. Another gauge of adequate hydration is that your urine color should be pale yellow (or almost clear).

Sleep deprivation
People who don’t get enough sleep each night are more likely to get sick.

Your immune system releases cytokines while you sleep. Cytokines are protein-messengers that fight inflammation and disease. Your body needs more of these proteins when you’re sick or stressed. Your body can’t produce enough of the protective proteins if you’re sleep-deprived. This lowers your body’s natural ability to fight infections and viruses.

Long-term sleep deprivation also increases your risk of:

obesity
heart disease
cardiovascular problems
diabetes
Most adults need between 7 and 8 hours of sleep each day. Teenagers and children need as much as 10 hours of sleep each day, according to the Mayo Clinic.

Dirty hands
Your hands come into contact with many germs throughout the day. When you don’t wash your hands regularly, and then touch your face, lips, or your food, you can spread illnesses. You can even reinfect yourself.

Simply washing your hands with running water and antibacterial soap for 20 seconds (hum the “Happy Birthday” song twice) helps you stay healthy and avoid illness-causing bacteria. When clean water and soap aren’t available, use alcohol-based hand sanitizers that contain at least 60 percent alcohol.

Disinfect countertops, door handles, and electronics such as your phone, tablet, or computer with wipes when you’re sick. To prevent the spread of illness, the Centers for Disease Control and PreventionTrusted Source (CDC) recommend washing your hands in these situations:

• before and after food preparation
  before eating
  before and after caring for a person who is sick
  before and after treating a wound
  after using the bathroom
  after changing diapers or assisting a child with potty training
  after coughing, sneezing, or blowing your nose
  after touching pets or handling pet waste or food
  after handling garbage

Bad oral health
Your teeth are a window into your health, and your mouth is a safe haven for both good and bad bacteria. When you’re not sick, your body’s natural defenses help maintain your oral health. Daily brushing and flossing also keeps dangerous bacteria in check. But when harmful bacteria grow out of control, it can make you sick and cause inflammation and problems elsewhere in your body.

Long-term, chronic oral health problems can have bigger consequences. Poor oral health is linked to several conditions, including:

• heart disease
  stroke
  premature birth
  low birth weight
  endocarditis, an infection in the inner lining of the heart

To promote healthy teeth and gums, brush and floss your teeth at least twice a day, especially after meals. Also schedule regular checkups with your dentist. Get more tips for preventing oral health problems.

Immune system disorders
Immune system disorders occur when a person’s immune system doesn’t fight antigens. Antigensare harmful substances, including:

• bacteria
  toxins
  cancer cells
  viruses
  fungi
  allergens, such as pollen
  foreign blood or tissues

In a healthy body, an invading antigen is met by antibodies. Antibodies are proteins that destroy harmful substances. However, some people have immune systems that don’t work as well as they should. These immune systems can’t produce effective antibodies to prevent illness.

You can inherit an immune system disorder, or it can result from malnutrition. Your immune system also tends to get weaker as you get older.

Talk with your doctor if you suspect you or a family member has an immune system disorder.

Genetics
A low white blood cell (WBC) count may also result in you getting sick more often. This condition is known as leukopenia, and it can be genetic or caused by another illness. A low WBC count increases your risk of infection.

On the other hand, a high WBC count can protect you against disease. Similar to a low WBC count, a high WBC count can also be the result of genetics. For this reason, some people may simply be more naturally equipped to fight a cold or flu.

Collected from : Health Line