From Covid to the flu and the nasty cold that’s been going around, it seems like most people are battling an illness right now.
So much so that pharmacies were selling out of cold and flu medications like Lemsip.
A number of factors are behind this wave of disease, says Neil Mabbutt, professor of immunopathology at the University of Edinburgh.
“In recent winters there has been limited indoor mingling as well as widespread use of face coverings and social distancing. We now mingle indoors and use public transport much more and in larger groups, providing greater opportunities for the spread of these common infectious diseases.
The situation is exacerbated by the fact that this winter seems to have a particularly brutal cold, says Danny Altman, professor of immunology at Imperial College London.
A number of factors are behind this wave of disease, says Neil Mabbott, professor of immunopathology at the University of Edinburgh.
“The current one seems to be highly infected and causes a really long hacking cough,” he told Good Health.
John Oxford, emeritus professor of virology at Queen Mary University of London, agrees.
“It’s been an outstanding winter so far,” he says. “There seems to be a lot of contagion. Also, there are dozens of varieties of the cold virus, and we can get reinfected with any of them.
And then there’s the so-called ‘immunity gap’, adds Professor Paul Hunter, an infectious disease expert at Norwich Medical School. This is the result of a blockage that reduces our usual exposure to seasonal viruses, so we have little natural immunity to them now that they are back in circulation. And the longer it is from the previous exposure, the greater our chance of catching an infection.
From Covid to the flu and the nasty cold that’s been going around, it seems like most people are battling an illness right now. So much so that pharmacies were selling out of cold and flu medications like Lemsip
“So if someone has been exposed to flu three months after their initial attack, they are unlikely to develop the disease again,” says Professor Hunter.
“If the exposure happens a year later, it can lead to a standard bout of flu – unpleasant but not dangerous because they won’t have high levels of antibodies against it, but they will have at least some.
“But now there’s a three-year gap between previous and current exposure to the flu, and that can lead to a severe form of the disease.” The same may apply to other respiratory infections.
How long we succumb to a virus—and how long it takes to feel normal—depends on factors such as the infection, your vaccination status, previous infections, and your age. But is there anything we can do to speed recovery?
Most drugs tackle the symptoms rather than the cause, so they won’t speed recovery, says Professor Hunter. Prescription antiviral drugs can do this, but are usually only available for severe flu in vulnerable people.
“For most people, by the time they know it’s flu, it’s too late to get them and they don’t help much,” says Professor Hunter. (Studies show that antiviral drugs work best when started within two days of getting sick.)
A more accessible form of treatment is sleep. A 2019 study in the Journal of Experimental Medicine found that a good night’s sleep can increase the function of T cells, the white blood cells that kill invading bacteria and viruses.
“The circadian rhythms of our body [24-hour cycle] and a night’s sleep play an important role in regulating our immune system,” explains Professor Mabbott.
“This is why disturbed sleep can reduce the effectiveness of our immune responses, whether against infections or vaccines.”
Dr Stephen Kinnear, a Bangor-based GP in County Down, says: “As sleep is vital to recovery, I use Calpol Vapor Plug & Nightlight children’s medicine which can stop a stuffy nose from getting in the way of my rest.” (Money help unclog, he says.)
Eating well also helps. “Think a Mediterranean diet rich in colorful plants, each with its own set of anti-inflammatory and antioxidant nutrients,” says Dr. Jenna Macchiocchi, senior lecturer in immunology at the University of Sussex and author of Your Strong Immunity Plan.
Focus on proteins as well, as they provide the building blocks for the various components of our immune system. In addition, your tissues may have been damaged by the infection – protein is important for recovery and repair.
She suggests omega-3 supplements because these fats are the raw material for our immune system’s anti-inflammatory mechanisms (to stop inflammation and aid in repair and recovery).
The reason we’re advised to drink plenty of fluids is, in part, to help thin mucus so it drains more easily, relieving congestion, Dr. Kinnear says.
“But limit alcohol,” adds Dr Roger Henderson, a GP in Shropshire. “Too much can lead to vitamin deficiencies, which can affect your immune system.”
And take it easy when it comes to exercise. “Exercising before you’re ready can set you back and leave you even more exhausted,” says Dr. Gavin Francis, a personal physician and author of Recovery: The Lost Art of Recovery. “It’s important to know that it’s okay to rest a little – and that it may take a few weeks to get better.”
Recovery is a vital part of recovery, Dr. Macciochi agrees. “In today’s fast-paced world, we feel like we don’t have time to be sick – we’re all looking for a quick fix and a quick return to our normal lives,” she says. “Recovery takes time. Health does not begin with the end of acute symptoms.
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