What are the reasons for frequent colds? Who is more susceptible to colds?

Whether adults or children, colds always bother many people. Some people cannot recover from a cold in a short time. Why is this? What are the causes of colds? Who is prone to colds?

1. Picky eaters

Some people often catch colds in winter, especially children who catch colds every other day. We should consider whether it is due to vitamin C and vitamin A deficiency caused by picky eating. Vitamin C is a water-soluble substance that can enhance the bactericidal and antiviral abilities of neutrophils and lymphocytes. In addition to alleviating symptoms, it can also shorten the course of the disease.

The more vitamin C you take from food, the better the effect of preventing and treating colds. Vitamin A is a fat-soluble substance. One of its important functions is to stabilize the epithelial cell membrane of the human body, maintain the integrity of the skin and mucous membrane structure, and enhance the body's immune function.

When vitamin A is deficient, lymphocytes cannot produce immunoglobulins, the ability of white blood cells to phagocytose bacteria is significantly reduced, and the renewal pattern of red blood cells is also inhibited. Under the invasion of viruses and bacteria, the function of the respiratory mucosa as a barrier defense line will be weakened, and it is not surprising that respiratory infections occur.

2. Those who fail to add or remove clothes in time

As the saying goes, "Cold starts from the feet." Keeping your feet warm is especially important for preventing colds.

Medical research shows that there are as many as 66 acupuncture points on the feet. They are involved in the circulation of qi and blood, connect the internal organs, communicate the inside and the outside, and penetrate the five internal organs. There is a very close nerve connection between the feet and the upper respiratory tract mucosa. If the feet are cold, the local blood vessels will contract and the blood will decrease, which will reflexively cause the capillaries of the upper respiratory tract mucosa such as the nasopharynx and trachea to contract, and the cilia will weaken. As a result, the local resistance is reduced, and bacteria and viruses take advantage of the opportunity to enter, making people more susceptible to colds. Especially the elderly and children, because of their low ability to resist cold, are more likely to catch a cold once their feet are cold.

3. People who like to eat "three high" foods and salty foods

Long-term consumption of high-fat, high-protein, and high-sugar foods will reduce the body's immune function. Excessive salt intake will reduce the amount of lysozyme secreted into the mouth by saliva, reducing the secretion of anti-disease factors including interferon, which will allow viruses to invade the upper respiratory tract mucosa and induce colds. Excessive consumption of sugar will not only lead to loss of appetite and weak spleen and stomach, but also cause water loss in the body because sugar has a diuretic effect, causing dry mouth and upper internal heat symptoms, making it easy to catch a cold.

In addition, eating too much sugar will aggravate children's calcium deficiency and vitamin B1 depletion, causing physical weakness and sweating, decreased immunity, and repeated colds.

4. People with mental stress

People whose nerves are often in a state of tension will have a significant decrease in antiviral substances such as interferons and nucleases in the nasopharynx, and their immune function will also decline, making them more susceptible to colds.