how do i avoid cheat infections

[terrzy]

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Hello. Firstly, obviously good & varied nutrition and sufficient sleep will support your immune system. If you're appetite is poor, take a vitamin & mineral supplement. Also:

1. Wash hands frequently & avoid touching your face

2. Try not to breathe through your mouth

3. Wear a non-fluffy scarf across your face in very cold weather. This helps the cilia in your nasal passages filter out viruses

4. If you have mucus in your lungs, ask to see a chest physio & do the exercises every day (this should really be point 1, as it's the most important!)

Hope this helps a bit

love, FF x

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I think anyone who can come up with a sure fire way to avoid them would be a very rich person.

We can only take advice and hope for the best.

[derrylynne]

There is no way of not getting chest infections. They seem to come from knowhere, and repeat infections are a way of life for us wheezers. But you can help to protect yourself to a certain extent. Stay away from anyone that is ill and that includes the common cold. Ask people that have flue or colds to stay away from you. Keep away from crowds if possible. Make sure you get the flue jab. Flue can kill us easily.

[timber]

I have found being very careful with personal hygiene helps. My spleen was removed some years ago which reduces my ability to fight infections.I read this thing about personal hygiene somewhere,close the toilet lid before flushing,reduces germs by some 70%,wash hands thoroughly soap/hot water,not just a quick rinse.

It may be only a coincidence but I have had less infections since implementing this

Keep puffing

Woody

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Try to keep yourself well - vitamin D3 has helped my husband and seems to reduce the number of infections. And having said that after this poor summer we must all be low on the sunshine vitamin! We try to keep away from people with colds and I always ask people if they are well before we visit in winter time! Also I introduced hand gel - I know a bit extreme but if you are meeting people and shaking hands .... The flu jab and pneumonia jab are important. AND a whole heap of luck! Good luck. TAD xx

[zube-UK]

I agree with all the others above and will add that sinus rinse each day is worthwhile too.

I use a neilmed bottle, 1 small tsp sea salt and half tsp bi-carb to a pint of boiled, warm water.

had much less infections since.

zu

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two other things I don't do - I don't use buses if I can help it as people cough all over you, and I don't use public swimming pools because of the potential for bugs in water vapour x

[sassy59]

I so agree with fairyfootsteps buses are a no, no and not likely to be taking Pete on the train to the Royal Brompton anytime soon either. Would be fine if people were more considerate but they are not. Like the idea of the scarf thing and will be looking into that. Chest infections can be avoided with care but if they are determined to get you, they will. xx

Don't swim so not a problem but that makes sense too.

[gill6]

Hi Terrzy

I think everyone has to work out the best ways to avoid chest infections that work for them. Unlike fairyfootsteps, I know that swimming three or four times a week is one of the things that keeps chest infections at bay for me as it the best way to get the air all the way to the bottom of my lungs.

I know that I need to avoid getting chilled (my worst winters have always been when I have got very chilled on an outdoor excursion) and so I wear a lot of layers from September to May. I also try to keep my throat and chest warm using pashminas and scarves or polo neck tops.

If I have the slightest sniffle or feeling of being ill, I cancel evening engagements and try to be tucked up in bed by 8pm as I know that the old agade of "an hour's sleep before midnight is worth two after" is true for me.

A good GP who is happy to prescribe antibiotics is worth their weight in gold. I hate taking them, but I have learnt when I need to. The process of learning to listen to your body takes years especially when you don't want to be defined by your illness. But I reckon I've got the balance about right now!!

Hope that helps

Gill6

[terrzy]

ty very helpful terrzy