| Does taking a lot of cold medication lower your immune system?
Posted: 2/21/2009 5:24:10 PM | Something I have always wondered because I never take cold medication if I feel a little bit sick and I haven't been sick in over 2 years.
A lot of my friends who do take cold medication whenever they feel sick seem to be sick every couple of months. Do you think taking cold medication increases your dependency on it and lowers your immune system?
What do you think? | |
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| Does taking a lot of cold medication lower your immune system?
Posted: 2/21/2009 5:34:02 PM | There's an old saying that if you take something for a cold, it will be over in about a week and if you take nothing, it should pass in about 7 days...
Usually meds mask or alleviate a symptom. I've never heard of them compromising your immune system. If anything, feeling better and getting rest may raise your immune system. I'm a strong believer in avoiding unnecessary suffering. If you feel more comfortable - why not? | |
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| Does taking a lot of cold medication lower your immune system?
Posted: 2/21/2009 8:14:53 PM | | hi.. all meds interfere with your immune system not to mention adding to the possibility of acquiring an autoimmune illness... eat high raw, drink pure water, breathe ocean air, exercise and pray, you will fight off diseases better that way.. blessings for continued health, warmly Mona | |
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| Does taking a lot of cold medication lower your immune system?
Posted: 2/21/2009 8:52:41 PM | | Depends on what you take. If it's an over the counter med from the drug store all you do is waste your money. Some people swear by certain meds or vitamins or herbs, it's basically to each their own. The trick is to stay healthy and not get sick. If you feel yourself getting tired catch up on your sleep. I haven't been ill for years. | |
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| Does taking a lot of cold medication lower your immune system?
Posted: 2/21/2009 10:35:42 PM | I doubt it or someone like me with allergies who has been on some of the same meds in cold remedies for 30 years would have horrible immune systems and I don't get colds anymore than anyone else.
I very lightly sautee up a bunch of sliced fresh garlic and add a can of whatever is around... ravioli, chicken noodle soup, and go to bed. Drink lots of water to help that garlic flush the toxins out of your system.
Your friends probably just have bad hygiene and don't realize it. Washing hands.... hand to mouth contact...etc
Besides you're young. | |
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| Does taking a lot of cold medication lower your immune system?
Posted: 2/22/2009 4:20:27 AM | Im not entirely sure.
However, knowing that the bodies immune /lymph system is made to fight foreign pathogens......I would assume anything you take over the counter ( cold medicines) might interfer with that.
For instance.....alof of people get a slight fever and rush out to get a fever reducer.
Raising your bodies temperature is your bodies way of fighting off the very pathogen its trying to get rid of.
A slight fever makes the body an *unsuitable* environment for some viruses/bacteria to stick around.
Obvioulsy If your fever is too high you will need something. But in general, let your body do its thing.
I suppose it would stand to reason if your body is feeling a bit feverish and you interfere with your own lymph systems job to do what it needs to.......Yes. I suppose cold medicine would lower your immune response.
Cold medications arent a cure, they simply mask symptoms for comfort | |
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| Does taking a lot of cold medication lower your immune system?
Posted: 2/22/2009 5:13:58 AM | | I agree - cold medicine just masks symptoms. I usually don't take anything because of the side effects and I know in a few days it will be gone anyway. The only time I would take anything is if I cannot sleep and am coughing all night. I never keep anything in my medicine cabinet (which is why I never have any cold medicine) in the first place and I'm rarely sick. Who knows. | |
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| Does taking a lot of cold medication lower your immune system?
Posted: 2/26/2009 4:38:51 AM | | The reason your body would lower its immune system (to a specific) is if you are blocking it from the virus itself. Since if you have a cold then your body has the virus and is fighting it. Although protecting yourself is a good thing,going to far will never let your body build a fight. | |
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| Does taking a lot of cold medication lower your immune system?
Posted: 2/26/2009 8:32:59 AM | | Most over the counter medication prolongs the duration of the cold by just treating symptoms. Get more sleep, drink more water, eat healthy, and move around when your up. You will heal much faster if you give the body what it wants!!!! | |
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| Does taking a lot of cold medication lower your immune system?
Posted: 2/27/2009 9:45:45 PM | | I have been taking a lot of cold medications whenever I have a cold. It has came to a point that I am immune to all the cold medications. I have no choice but have to stop taking them. I have been eating healthy and exercise about 3-4 times a week. But I still don't get it, why am I sick all the time? I am getting so tired of being sick :( | |
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| Does taking a lot of cold medication lower your immune system?
Posted: 2/27/2009 9:57:48 PM | | No cold medications dont lower your immune system . The abuse of cold meds meaning taking a lot more than the dosage can over time cause you to have to take more of the medication in order for it to work right. Also too much can cause harm to your heart as well. If its always the same people getting sick off and on so much, they may have a weak immune system in the first place that makes them prone to getting sick more often than the average person. Hope this helps. | |
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| Does taking a lot of cold medication lower your immune system?
Posted: 2/27/2009 10:11:45 PM |
But I still don't get it, why am I sick all the time? I am getting so tired of being sick :(
You should get a full workup by a doctor. There are things like histoplasmosis commonly available in all soil, that can mimic a cold and keep you sick for a long long time. Much less any allergy. | |
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| Does taking a lot of cold medication lower your immune system?
Posted: 2/28/2009 9:06:55 PM | But if you say you're sick that is not enough. Start a daily journal of your symptoms, schedule a dr appt for a month or so out and bring in the written journal.
If he can't find anything chances are its dietary, but still a lot of minor infections are missed. You could start on a multivitamin and see if that helps. I'm still a big believer in TANG ... lot of good vitamins and minerals, water soluble, best for bioavailability
Don't go overboard. Just one halfway decent multivitamin.
Seeing you're a 30 year old woman first thing to check is iron, Vit D since you're in the northern climate. Statistics are big on those two being low for some one in your age range and sex. | |
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