It’s never a good sign when your body has to deal with an infection, no matter its cause. However, it can be more worrisome if other people are seemingly unaffected by these health problems, or if these infections have already become repetitive.
If you’re the type of person to be easily infected or deal with reinfections, there may be factors that put you at risk for these. Take a closer look at some of the reasons why you may be more susceptible to infections, along with potential ways to lower this risk.
These Factors Can Raise Your Infection or Reinfection Risk
There are many factors that can put you at a higher risk for an infection. Some of these can be linked to lifestyle habits, or diseases that can negatively impact your body:
- Not getting enough sleep: If you lack sleep or don’t get high-quality shut-eye, your body won’t have time to recover and rest. Your body also won’t be able to make as many infection- and inflammation-fighting proteins called cytokines. This results in a weakened immune system that can raise your chances of illness.
- Smoking: Results of a study showed that cigarette smoke can disrupt the balance within your immune system and trigger inflammation and potentially harmful effects on your immune and tissue cells. As a result, you can become more susceptible to infections and diseases.
- Increased alcohol intake: One study highlighted that increased alcohol consumption can weaken your immune cells’ ability to function, among many other complications. As a result, your immune system doesn’t properly function and raises your risk for an infection.
- Failure to properly wash your hands often: Germs and other pathogens can remain in a person’s unwashed hands. Once a person with unwashed hands touches his or her eyes, nose, and/or mouth, this can start an infection.
On the other hand, someone with unwashed hands can also spread infection-causing pathogens to other people when they touch other objects, especially those that are considered communal. Objects that can serve as breeding grounds for infection-causing pathogens include handrails, countertops, tables, faucets, and sinks, to name a few.
- Immune system disorders: People diagnosed with any of these disorders have to deal with their own bodies attacking and even damaging their tissues. This weakens their immune system and leaves them vulnerable to infections. Examples of immunodeficiency or autoimmune disorders include rheumatoid arthritis, multiple sclerosis, type 1 diabetes, and inflammatory bowel disease.
- Excessive antibiotic use and/or antibiotic resistance: Frequent antibiotic use, especially for diseases that won’t require them, can negatively change the composition of your body’s microbiome. This causes reduced amounts of good bacteria in the gut. As a result, you’ll end up with a weakened immune system and an increased infection risk. To prevent this, always consult your doctor before taking any antibiotic to understand if it will benefit you or not.
What to Do to Lower Your Infection Risk
The good news is, there are multiple lifestyle changes you can do to reduce your infection or reinfection risk, such as:
- Washing your hands: Make sure to thoroughly wash and dry your hands after using the bathroom, before or after tasks like food prep or gardening, after holding your pet, taking care of a sick person, and after blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing. This way, you won’t be exposed to infection-causing germs, and won’t transmit harmful pathogens to other people too.
- Refraining from self-medication: If you notice any symptom of an infection, consult your doctor first and avoid self-medication. This is to ensure you receive a proper diagnosis, and know what course of treatment is best-suited for your condition. This way, you can also reduce your risk for antibiotic resistance that often occurs when people take antibiotics to address diseases or symptoms that don’t need them in the first place.
- Avoiding sharing and/or using items with others: You’re more likely to be exposed to infection-causing germs and bacteria when you share items with other people. Examples of items not meant to be shared include dishes, glasses, eating utensils, napkins, tissues, or other similar items.
- Get enough sleep: Strive to get around seven to nine hours of high-quality sleep each night, so your immune system is able to recharge and recalibrate itself to combat infections.
- Bolster your health with a nutrient-rich diet: One of the easiest and most effective ways to protect your body against diseases would be through the food you eat. As such, consume food that’s rich in these powerful immune system-boosting nutrients: vitamins A, C, D, E, folic acid, iron, selenium, and zinc.
You may also want to consider adding a supplement like Sodium Ascorbate Zinc (ImmunPro®) to your daily regimen, alongside implementing a healthy and nutrient-rich diet and a regular exercise routine.
This supplement contains vitamin C and zinc that were proven to help strengthen your immune system and protect it from infections. It also has a ZincPlus Tablet Technology that ensures a stabilized combination and absorption of vitamin C and zinc. Learn more about the potential benefits of Sodium Ascorbate Zinc (ImmunPro®), and other ways to protect yourself from infections by visiting this website. You may also click here to purchase ImmunPro® online.
IF SYMPTOMS PERSIST, CONSULT YOUR DOCTOR.
ASC Reference No. U168P110521IS
