Colds, cough brought on from training

kadler

I notice that when I increase training volume and/or intensity the likelihood of getting a cold or cough rises. I have noticed my susceptibility rising through the years as well

I know many others who share the same issue as the immune system gets compromised during long exertions.  Any ideas on how to manage this dynamic or take preemptive measures?  I am doing the known things already including getting enough sleep, eating properly, taking vitamins.

It is really getting frustrating as you think things are going great and then it hits.

 

Brenda Ross

Have you considered seeing a chiropractor that focuses on wellness care. They specialize in the central nervous system. You could have some subluxations which are affecting your immunity system. 

Leslie Knight

This is a pretty well known phenomenon and typically happens during taper. Best bet for prevention is the same as for everyone else. Eat healthy, wash your hands frequently and don't touch your face- especially eyes and nose. I'm not a clean freak - dirt and even your own bathroom habits don't make you sick. It's OTHER people's bathroom habits and snot that makes you sick. So after shaking anyone's hand or touching public stuff, don't touch your face until you wash those hands. I have to shake hands a lot and do receiving lines- I keep the hand sanitizer in my pocket.
And when flying- I carry sanitizer and a mask now, after sitting next to Typhoid Mark on my way to Beach to Battleship last year (at the height of the Ebola scare). I will have no compunction about slapping a mask on myself if THAT happens again. He was sticking his used tissues in the seat back pocket! Gross!! Wish I could stick a mask on the other person...
Good luck and be well.

kadler

Pretty clear the training impairs the immune system for many of us.

I am close to officially being a germaphobe as a result of this last cold and actually now agree wearing a mask in certain settings is not foolish.

Heck maybe a chiropractor could help, how weird would that be. I will try anything

steve Beyer

Training impairs, or "fatigues" the immune system only when the body is no longer able to adapt to the physiologogical stress placed upon it. Not challenging the immune system when it's in a weakened state, by following advice like Leslie gave is good common sense. But if this susceptibility happens regularly then you could have dug yourself into a hole that rest and the above advice might not get you out of.

I would suggest trying to find someone who can do a functional blood chemistry work up on you. There is a big difference between the lab ranges and what is the optimal range that things should be in on a blood test, and lots of subtle, but very significant things can be missed if you're not getting the test evaluated my someone who knows the difference. A good thorough blood test(I'm not talking about your basic, do the very minimum test), properly evaluated could identify issues that are contributing to what seems like a weakened immune system.....which when all is said and done, isn't "normal", the question is will rest alone be enough to enable it to rebound.

kadler

Thanks for the advice. It sure is tough to find an understanding and capable doctor. My experience is that when I tell a doctor about the hours of training I am doing they reflexively tell me there is nothing wrong with me any ailment or injury is from my being 50 year old who is overdoing it. These days to earn a living internists and general practitioners have to be specialists in diabetics and obesity; there is not enough time for the healthy folks.

CristiLW

I see a natural pathologist on a regular basis and she has prescribed a regiment of vitamins for adrenal gland fatigue that she feels is caused by my increased training. You might want to do some research on adrenal gland fatigue. A few extra vitamins might really help. I have seen some nice results!

kadler

Thanks for the advice.  Felling much better, may have been the Flu, been a crazy year for that