Getting sick every two weeks often points to a weakened immune system due to lifestyle factors like chronic stress, poor sleep, bad diet (lack of nutrients/hydration), and poor hygiene, leading to constant exposure to viruses from work/social circles. Underlying issues like allergies, sinus problems, or even certain health conditions can also contribute, making you more vulnerable to infections like colds and flu. Addressing sleep, stress, nutrition, and hygiene can help, but see a doctor if it persists to rule out medical causes.
However, if you keep getting colds or just seem to get sick every two weeks, this may be your immune system's way of telling you to slow down or take steps to limit your level of exposure.
Bad diet rich in saturated fats, sugar, and salt, smoking and drinking alcohol, too much or not enough physical exercise, bad hygiene (especially not washing your hands well), stress and lack of having fun and relaxation have a negative impact on our immune system.
Why You Might Be Getting Sick More Often. Feeling like you're always one sneeze away from your next cold? It might not just be bad luck. Some of the most common reasons your immunity may be low are poor sleep, vitamin D deficiency, and chronic inflammation.
But, for some, getting sick frequently is the norm. For most adults, it's normal to get somewhere between one and three colds per year, Dr. Otto Yang tells TODAY.com.
Symptoms
Getting enough vitamin C is essential for the production and function of white blood cells, and without it you might find that you're more likely to develop cold symptoms like coughing as well as finding it harder to recover.
See six tips below.
Common symptoms of autoimmune disease include:
Stress hormones suppress immune function, making you more likely to catch colds, get sick more often and take longer to recover.
The first step in an autoimmune reset is eliminating foods that commonly trigger inflammation or immune responses, including:
An immunoglobulins blood test can help your health care provider diagnose different types of health conditions that may affect your immune system. A variety of conditions can cause abnormal levels of IgM, IgG, and/or IgA, such as: Autoimmune disorders.
Green juice
Make them right and they're packed with vitamins, minerals and fibre, which can help naturally support your immune system. In particular, green veg adds vitamins A and C – both vital for a healthy immune system – and vitamin K, which supports bones. You can make one with any green leafy vegetable you fancy.
Secondary viral infection: If symptoms are getting worse, or if they were better but are getting worse again, it's possible you've developed a secondary infection — such as a sinus infection or pneumonia. Bacterial infection: Coughs that don't stop also can be due to bacterial infections, like acute bronchitis.
Consuming adequate amounts of several vitamins and minerals—including vitamin A, vitamin C, vitamin D, vitamin E, selenium, and zinc—is important for proper immune function, and clinical deficiencies of these nutrients weaken immunity and can increase susceptibility to infections [2,4,5,8-10].
You're Overexposed to the Cold Virus
There are over 200 known viruses that can cause the common cold. So even if you've had a cold before, your immune system probably hasn't built up defenses against every virus strain that can lead to a cold. Another reason could be that you're around a lot of people who are sick.
Early warning signs of lupus often include extreme fatigue, unexplained fever, joint pain/swelling, skin rashes (especially a butterfly-shaped one on the face), hair loss, mouth sores, and Raynaud's phenomenon (fingers/toes turning white or blue in the cold). Because these symptoms mimic other conditions, lupus can be hard to diagnose early, but they often come in waves (flares) and affect various body systems.
Autoimmune diseases (ADs) affect approximately 5% of the world population [1, 2]. The age at onset varies widely depending on the disease. For example, sixty-five percent of patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) start manifesting their symptoms between ages 16 and 55 [3].
The "worst" autoimmune diseases are subjective but often cited for severity, impact on life expectancy, or organ damage, with top contenders including Giant Cell Myocarditis (highly fatal), Vasculitis (damages blood vessels), Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (Lupus) (multi-organ), Multiple Sclerosis (MS) (nervous system), and Type 1 Diabetes (pancreas, life-long management). Other severe conditions include Scleroderma and Myasthenia Gravis.
Five signs of a weak immune system include frequent infections, slow-healing wounds, persistent fatigue, ongoing digestive issues, and getting sick with things that last a long time, like a cold that lingers or severe infections requiring strong treatment. These indicate your body struggles to fight off pathogens or repair itself effectively.
Eating a healthy diet, exercising regularly and getting enough sleep can all strengthen your immune system. Reducing your stress levels can also boost your resistance to disease and infections. Staying up to date on vaccinations gives you the most protection against those pathogens.
The cause is not fully understood, but in some cases it is thought that autoimmune diseases are triggered by exposure to microorganisms or other environmental causes, especially in people with a genetic predisposition to the disorder. A single organ or multiple organs and tissues may be affected.
B12 deficiency can trigger specific food cravings, most notably for meat, fish, or eggs, as the body seeks animal-based sources to replenish the vitamin, especially in those on vegetarian/vegan diets or older adults. While cravings for sugary or salty foods can also signal general B-vitamin issues, the distinct urge for protein-rich animal products is a key indicator, but professional testing is crucial for confirmation.
Vitamin D and Three Main Immune Interactive Clusters (Physical Barriers, Innate and Adaptive Immunity) Involved during an Episode of Common Colds.
Cutaneous manifestations associated with vitamin B12 deficiency are skin hyperpigmentation, vitiligo, angular stomatitis, and hair changes. A diagnosis of vitamin B12 deficiency is often overlooked in its early stages because these signs are not specific to vitamin B12 deficiency alone.