That is why you are often sick. Unclear reasons for low immunity have been announced – Health

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the average adult gets a cold 2-3 times a year. But some of us tend to get sick more often, Sports.kz reports, citing Focus.ua.

“It happens differently, especially among women,” says infectious disease specialist Nikhil Bhayani, MD. Women aged 20 to 30 get colds more often than men. Other factors also play a role, many of which are lifestyle factors that you can control. Well&Good writes about the main reasons why you get a cold so often.

You don’t get enough sleep

If you haven’t been sleeping well recently and often stay up late, this could be the result of low immunity.

According to Dr. Bhayani, lack of sleep hinders your body’s ability to fight against invading germs. People who sleep just six hours a night are four times more likely to get a cold when exposed to the virus than those who sleep seven hours or more, according to a clinical study in the Sleep magazine.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends that adults get at least seven hours of sleep each night, and children and teenagers even more.

Are you stressed?

Stress, especially chronic stress, can also increase the likelihood of illness by about two times, according to the 2021 Perspectives in Psychological Science study.

Like lack of sleep, high levels of chronic stress can suppress your immune system. As a result, any germs you’re exposed to can bypass your body’s immune system and cause an infection, according to the Cleveland Clinic.

Do you have any chronic diseases

With chronic health problems, especially those that weaken or suppress your immune system, this can increase your risk of getting sick more often. According to the Cleveland Clinic, the culprits may include:

– rheumatoid arthritis

– Psoriasis or psoriatic arthritis

– Crohn’s disease

– ulcerative colitis

– an inactive or overactive thyroid gland

– Multiple sclerosis

– type 1 diabetes

Basically, if your immune system is busy doing other things related to your chronic illness, it has less ability to fight off incoming germs.

You are often in crowded places

If you spend more time in places where there are a lot of germs, there’s a good chance you’ll pick up more germs. You may have recently found a new job where you are exposed to more people, such as in retail, the service industry or teaching, according to the World Economic Forum. Or you might come into contact with more surfaces that tend to harbor more germs: think doorknobs in public places, shopping carts, stair rails​​​​​​or elevator buttons, the CDC notes.

Do you have children?

Children are adorable, but they also spread viruses. So if you have them in your home, you will be exposed to a lot more germs and you are likely to get sick more often, says Dr. Bhayani.

Parents with only one child in the household are 28% more likely to develop a viral infection within a year compared to childless adults, a clinical study of infectious diseases has found. Having two or more children increases the risk.

You are malnourished

Most of us allow ourselves to break healthy eating habits from time to time. But the consequences may take their toll over time. Vitamins C, D and E, along with minerals such as zinc and selenium, play a key role in supporting your immune function. A long-term deficiency can make you more susceptible to disease, a 2024 study in Nutrients concluded.