Can anyone tell me if taking inhalers, I am on brown and green regularly know , can deplete your immune system. I seem to have had one heavy cold after another this year since I have been taking meds regularly . Does this mean I need to take vitimin supplements to boost my immunity, or is this just a coincidence.
Any advise would be helpfull. I cannot cope with anymore colds.They are getting me down This last one has given me awful sinusitus, still trying to clear it up , on antibiotics now, and before that terrible upper respiritory congestion . Both lasting for ages and created coughs I cannot clear. Before I took inhalers my colds cleared much quicker . is there an answer to this dilema, Help anyone
I have also been wondering the same thing as I seem to be more susceptible to catching viruses and infections since I've been on steroid inhalers.
I bought some vitamins/supplements from the US this summer in an attempt to boost my imune system this autumn/winter - the trial's not been an overwhelming success so far, though, as I've had an ear infection and a cold in the 3 weeks I've been taking them. Bad luck? Possibly!
Thanks for your reply . Much appreciated . Someone at work has told me she thinks actimel is very good at helping to build general imunity she says she has not had acold in the last two years since she has been taking them . Perhaps its worth a try . How lucky she is to be cold free. There are some herbal products but not sure about contra-indications , will have to speak to my asthma nurse on that one
hey all,
I asked the same ques not so long ago and someone told me about garlic capsules and vit c tablets (strong ones) i find the effervesent ones good.
I use muller pre and pro biotics as they contain both and not just a pro biotic which actimal has... i use them for my stomach more than anything and dont stop my colds im afraid... sniff sniff.....
kel xx
Hi Kel
Thanks for advice will get going on the Vit C and Garlic, Anything that helps fight of the bugs . I have also received some advise on breathing techniques that might help reduce intake of germs .Something I will try aswell. So failing putting a bag over my head to stop infections I may survive thr winter, Swine flu, or colds with a bit of luck !!
Regards Mo x
I see its not just its no just me that is getting more viruses. I was beginning to think I am now doomed to be a sickly person , There has to be an answer to all this . Sometimes I want to throw all my meds away and look at natural remedies. How do others feel about this . Failing this a move to the mountains of Switzerland for some pure air ( Wishful thinking of course , not rich enough !!)
Regards
Mo
Hi Mo,
I know how you feel hun but please don't be discouraged, I am now making lifestyle changes also such as eating more fruit and veg, more water and off the alcohol, gwetting enough sleep and reducing my reactions to stress, small things which people tell you everyday yet sometimes harder to follow!
I use herbal medicines time to time depending whats wrong (i suffer from asthma, Gerd and migraninous dizzyness) and always seem to have a symptom of some sort like you, however the more you stress and not get on with life the ahrder it will get, stay strong!
its also the season as well for even the most healthy to feel run down also, esp with no vit d and sunlight from the sun.... just bosst the immune system as much a sposs with 1000 mg vit c, garlic and echinecea (so long as your not allergic to any of these) you may feel better...
big hug
kel xx.
I saw my GP again on Thursday - the ear infection's not gone and she also suspects I have a sinus infection, so has given me 10 days of different antibiotics - and I asked her about my perceived lack of immunity to bugs/viruses.
She was not hugely specific, but did say in response that I should reduce my steroid inhaler and nose spray as much as possible when symptoms are controlled.
I may be misinterpreting her response, but I took this to suggest she felt there may be a link between higher levels of steroid use and immunity. I wonder whether any of the medically-qualified people on these boards have an opinion?
intersting analogy . Will ask my nurse when I see her next week regarding links to inhaler and immunity and let you know her response.
Perhaps as you say any medics out there can give us some feedback and how best to improve immunity .
This is becoming an intersting thread . Look forward to more debate on the subject
Cheers Mo
I have just been reading about yeast overgrown (candida) and the immune system.
I do get ths esp on my tongue and throat, and overuse of steriods and antibiotics can cause this as it kills all the healthy bacteria and fauna in the intestinal track.
im at the moment run down and suffering so i am limiting my sweet intake and carbs as that feed candidas...
kel xx
they do have an impact, but prednisolone is worse than the inhaled steroids. I take a 1000mg vitamin C daily, but do be careful, some suffer from unfortunate side effects frequenting in trips to the bathroom. Also Garlic capsules and don't forget the most obvious two things, 1 keep you fluid intake up, and unfortunately that's doesn't include the alcohol kind, shame as you'd think it would kill the bacteria, and what did our grannies always tell us, wrap up and keep warm. I'll dig out an article on this one and post later. The trouble with antibiotics is they really hammer your immune system, so to be used only as a last resort.
I was like you until last year, constant colds, which I would never get before having asthma, this year everyone else has had colds, but I've escaped so far, now thats done it, I'll be ill for weeks
they do have an impact, but prednisolone is worse than the inhaled steroids. I take a 1000mg vitamin C daily, but do be careful, some suffer from unfortunate side effects frequenting in trips to the bathroom. Also Garlic capsules and don't forget the most obvious two things, 1 keep you fluid intake up, and unfortunately that's doesn't include the alcohol kind, shame as you'd think it would kill the bacteria, and what did our grannies always tell us, wrap up and keep warm. I'll dig out an article on this one and post later. The trouble with antibiotics is they really hammer your immune system, so to be used only as a last resort.
I was like you until last year, constant colds, which I would never get before having asthma, this year everyone else has had colds, but I've escaped so far, now thats done it, I'll be ill for weeks
they do have an impact, but prednisolone is worse than the inhaled steroids. I take a 1000mg vitamin C daily, but do be careful, some suffer from unfortunate side effects frequenting in trips to the bathroom. Also Garlic capsules and don't forget the most obvious two things, 1 keep you fluid intake up, and unfortunately that's doesn't include the alcohol kind, shame as you'd think it would kill the bacteria, and what did our grannies always tell us, wrap up and keep warm. I'll dig out an article on this one and post later. The trouble with antibiotics is they really hammer your immune system, so to be used only as a last resort.
I was like you until last year, constant colds, which I would never get before having asthma, this year everyone else has had colds, but I've escaped so far, now thats done it, I'll be ill for weeks
Healthy Immune System Tips
By Dr. Josh Coen D.C.
The FLU SHOT...WOW now there is a topic we can go back and forth on forever. Does it really work? Do I even need it? Will the potential side effects out weigh the gains? Let me see I could be sick for a week or I could get a risky flu shot. (I am not even going to start on the H1N1 vaccine that is just a bees nest waiting to be poked.) So let us avoid all those topics, I will let you research that on your own and consult with your personnel health care provider, so you can make up your own mind. What we really need to talk about is, keeping your immune system as healthy as possible and functioning to its' fullest potential. With that, you will have a great defense system already in place, no matter what attacks your body.
So here it goes- Your immune system is a complex system that can learn and grow with us as we get older and have different environmental stresses affect our body. In order to grow and remember how to fight off attacks, so they do not affect us again, our immune system needs to stay strong. In just the same way that our skin darkens in response to increased levels of sun exposure to protect us against harmful UV rays, our immune system bulks up to fight off infections. But unlike our skin which goes back to its normal color after being out of the sun for a few weeks, our immune system does not regress completely, IT REMEMBERS, that is, if we feed it, nourish it, and love it.
To be, or not to be Healthy that is the question: Well, not really, we all want to be healthy, it is just a matter of focusing on the important parts and not getting to wrapped up in all the details. So let us focus on the basics, vitamins, because there are so many places we could start. For this topic we are going to focus on the main vitamins that help our immune system. Vitamin C is easy to get, just drink your orange juice, not from concentrate of course. Most other fruits you eat will help you with that one as well. Vitamin D is usually easy to get all we need to do is to get some sun and play a round of golf every week, but wait a second, what about us stranded up here in the frozen north. Well, milk is fortified with it, so that helps, but cod liver oil supplement is a better way along with eating eggs and other fish. Omega- 3 has numerous health benefits, but one of those is improved immune function. Omega-3 is found in fish oils and also as supplements. So if you love sushi or just hate fish all together there are ways to get your omega-3s'.
Another important focusing point is probiotics. Probiotics are very important, 80% of your immunity comes form your digestive system and if anyone has ever taken antibiotics you have wiped out the good defensive bacteria along with the bad and need to replace it. You get probiotics from fermented foods such as yogurt, the only problem is that today's yogurts and other dairy products have been ultra pasteurized and the probiotic level is very low, so, it is important to either eat organic yogurt or take a probiotic supplement, to allow the digestive system to do what it does best, break down organic material we can use and get ride of all the other junk.
Finally, Exercise....Exercise.... Exercise....Three times a week. Our bodies whether you know it or not thrive on being active. I suggest getting a physical before undergoing any radical new exercise programs, but just walking a few miles three times a week is better than nothing at all and will help you stay healthy. Exercise helps keep the circulatory system functioning properly which is important in delivering the immune complexes to different areas of your body and it removes the waste. It also helps keep the respiratory system, your lungs, functioning at their best. This helps keep your body oxygenated and strong. So if you are anything like me, you love to eat and if you are even more like me you have a hard time remembering to take your vitamins. So what I do to avoid all those cooties is just remember what I learned in grade school, eat plenty of fruits and all your vegetables, play chase at recess, and get plenty of sleep to heal and recharge for tomorrow.
Oh wait one more thing, get ADJUSTED. Keeping the nervous system functioning properly in turn keeps the immune system at the top of is game. Since the nervous system is the major information system of our body any decrease in its' function can have a direct affect on the other systems of the body including the immune systems potential to fight off harmful infections. So it is important to get to your local Chiropractor today, get your spine checked, and get adjusted.
My name is Dr. Josh Coen D.C. and I work at Chiropractic Wellness Center of Indiana. My wife Christina and I originate from Michigan and are big Michigan State University fans. I went to Palmer College of Chiropractic and believe that Chiropractic is the doorway to a healthier life. I can be reached through our website cwcofindiana.com and am more than willing to answer any questions you may be having about your health.
Yours in Health and Wellness,
Dr. Josh Coen D.C.
(not the one I was looking for, but probably better)
That's an interesting article, Woody. I just wanted to highlight that it's written by an American, so when he says he's in the ""frozen north,"" he's still much further south than anyone in the UK. He's in Indiana - about the same latitude as Italy. And even there he's saying it's hard to get enough vit D from the sun. He says it's in milk, because US milk is fortified with vit D, but our milk isn't usually.
I decided to leave the article as he'd written it, but yes the lack of vitamin D is interesting, several recent items have indicated vitamin D level play a role in asthma. I never knew about the US milk, maybe we should be thinking about it, not much good for those of us who drink black tea and coffee.
I'm just slightly wary of that article as he's promoting chiropractic for asthma and there does not appear to be any good evidence for this, despite claims made by chiropractors. E.g. BTS/SIGN guidelines say there is no evidence for recommending spinal manipulation or chiropractic. I have no problem with his recommendations to eat a healthy diet and exercise regularly (if you can) but I'm dubious about the promotion of chiropractic.
Re vitamin D, there was a report on this website very recently about research into Vitamin D supplementation in pregnancy & impact on childhood asthma - asthma.org.uk/how_we_help/f... . And there are studies being conducted at present into Vitamin D and asthma in the US in the wake of epidemiological studies finding low levels in people with asthma.
I think the advise regarding healthy lifestyle really seems to be the key . I have always been pretty good at healthy eating but obviously need a bit more help so I have now started to take vit c and garlic caps daily and actimel with my porridge in the morning . I was told by a very good acupuncturist many years ago to take jumbo oats with a sharp apple grated , (granny Smiths )and honey for breakfast as its the best to keep the gut healthy . I have neglected this more recently so will go back and try this now that winter is looming on us. I am due to have my flu jab very soon . So lets see if all this additional help from diet and vits is helpful, and I have stopped alcohol for a while to see if this helps , not that I drink loads these days, but did in the past, just a couple of glasses of red wine a week . So I am hoping that by being a very good girl I may improve my immunity . boring but worth a try . Again thanks for all the interesting chat . keep up the thread
Mo
hi i wouldnt say taking inhalers reduce immune but would say taking steriods does
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