Whether or not you get sick with a cold after being exposed to a virus depends on many factors that affect your immune system. Old age, cigarette smoking, mental stress, poor nutrition and lack of sleep have all been associated with impaired immune function and increased risk of infection.

Keeping the immune system in good shape

Can regular exercise help keep your immune system in good shape? Researchers are just now supplying some answers to this new and exciting question. Fitness enthusiasts have frequently reported that they experience less sickness than their sedentary peers. For example, a survey conducted during the ’80s revealed that 61 percent of 700 recreational runners reported fewer colds since they began running, while only 4 percent felt they had experienced more.

Further research has shown that during moderate exercise, several positive changes occur in the immune system. Various immune cells circulate through the body more quickly, and are better able to kill bacteria and viruses. Once the moderate exercise bout is over, the immune system returns to normal within a few hours.

In other words, every time you go for a brisk walk, your immune system receives a boost that should increase your chances of fighting off cold viruses over the long term.

Should you exercise when sick?

Fitness enthusiasts and endurance athletes alike are often uncertain of whether they should exercise or rest when sick. Although more research is needed, most sports medicine experts in this area recommend that if you have symptoms of a common cold with no fever (i.e., symptoms are above the neck), moderate exercise such as walking is probably safe.

Intensive exercise should be postponed until a few days after the symptoms have gone away. However, if there are symptoms or signs of the flu (i.e., fever, extreme tiredness, muscle aches, swollen lymph glands), then at least two weeks should probably be allowed before you resume intensive training.

Staying in shape to exercise

For athletes who are training intensively for competition, the following guidelines can help reduce their odds of getting sick.

1. Eat a well-balanced diet.

The immune system depends on many vitamins and minerals for optimal function. However, at this time, there is no good data to support supplementation beyond 100 percent of the Recommended Dietary Allowances.

2. Avoid rapid weight loss.

Low-calorie diets, long-term fasting and rapid weight loss have been shown to impair immune function. Losing weight while training heavily is not good for the immune system.

3. Obtain adequate sleep.

Major sleep disruption (e.g., three hours less than normal) has been linked to immune suppression.

4. Avoid overtraining and chronic fatigue.

Space vigorous workouts and race events as far apart as possible. Keep “within yourself” and don’t push beyond your ability to recover.

How is cold viruses transmitted? Cold viruses can be transmitted in two ways: (1) Touching respiratory secretions on a person’s skin (ex: shaking hands) or on environmental surfaces (ex. doorknobs) and then touching the eyes, nose or mouth, or by (2) inhaling infectious particles in the air (like respiratory secretions from a cough or sneeze).

Symptoms will usually be irregular or increased vaginal bleeding or post coital staining. The precise cause of cervical cancer is not known. Women who have multiple sex partners are at increased risk, and the disease is more frequent in young prostitutes. Those who started intercourse at ages 14 or 15 years have higher risk than those who started intercourse over 20 years. Also, women married to men whose previous wives had developed cervical cancer had threefold increase frequency of the disease. The occurrence of diseases such as gonorrhea has also been shown to be associated with the frequency of cervical carcinoma. Alteration to immune function increases the risk of cancer, i.e. HIV infection. Certain viruses, such as papillomavirus, herpesvirus and cytomegalovirus have also been implicated.

The Pap smear has been widely used for about 50 years to screen women for cancerous and pre-cancerous cervical diseases. It has been effective to reduce the frequency of invasive cancer of the cervix by 50% . However, it is estimated that only 5-12 percent of the recommended target population has ever been screened in our country and those are usually women in the cities). The Pap smear is an office procedure that usually takes only a few minutes. It is done at a time when women are not having menstrual bleeding. A speculum is the instrument used in exposing the cervix, by placing in the vaginal canal. Samples are obtained using cytobrush, spatula or cotton swab. The sample is smeared on a slide and placed in a fixative. The slide will then be interpreted by a pathologist. Usually, in 3-7 days results are released.

The American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology and International Academy of Cytology recommend that Pap smear start at the age of 18 years or when the individual becomes sexually active, and continue annually indefinitely.

There are also newer diagnostic technologies that aim to decrease the false negative (chances of the test being negative when it is actually positive) rate of the conventional Pap smear:

1. Liquid Based Cytology (thin layer technologies)
   • Thin Prep
   • Autocyte
2. Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) Testing
3. Computer Assisted Screening (Screening Automation)

Only the first two diagnostic tests are currently available in most big hospitals.

Again, cervical cancer is preventable and the standard way to screen for the disease is by having an annual pap smear. It is a simple procedure that takes only a few minutes, but can save years in most women lives. Women do not have to wait for symptoms of irregular vaginal bleeding nor post coital staining to have themselves screened for cervical cancer. Even prior to the occurrence of the symptoms, the Pap smear and any of the newer technologies will be able to detect pre-cancerous cells.

Obesity is now considered a disease rather than a physical attribute. It is the root cause of many diseases such as high blood pressure, stroke, heart and kidney problems, diabetes, joint pains, and skin diseases. Some of these diseases can even be life threatening.

Once a person starts losing weight, the functions of the different organs in the body begin to improve as well. Take the heart as an example. This is a remarkable organ that works 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, all throughout your lifetime. Excessive fat surrounding this organ will become an obstacle to its regular function, forcing the heart muscles to overwork. An overworked and overloaded heart will inadequately supply blood to our vital organs leading to fatigue, chest discomfort, and the like. As we lose weight, we improve cardiac function and cardiovascular performance.

Cholesterol is always a major concern when it comes to obesity. This is a normal constituent in the body, however, in excess it can be harmful. Cholesterol is derived from the fats we consume from food. Abnormally high amounts in the blood can lead to fatty deposits, narrowing our blood vessels leading to an inadequate supply of blood to our vital organs. This condition is known as arteriosclerosis. By choosing the right food and maintaining the ideal body weight, bad cholesterol is kept at low levels. In the long term, you halt the progression of arterial hardening, it turn, blood circulation in the body is also optimized.

Excessive weight interferes with the skeletomuscular activities. All the weight-bearing joints are overburdened due to the excess load. Gout, rheumatism and arthritis are common in those who are overweight. But along with these diseases, the damage to the joints and bones is greater in obese than in non-obese individuals. As one loses there is less sheer force over these joints hence improving mobility and eliminates joint pain.

Sleep apnea and respiratory problems are also not uncommon in obese patients. Again by losing weight, “reformed” obese individuals will have a more restful sleep, thus improving the oxygenation in the respiratory system.

The social and financial impact of obesity is tremendous, considering that the cost of medical health now is overwhelming. The simple steps of weight loss can have a large impact towards the improvement of bodily functions and prevention of certain diseases.

Residential Rehab Center

Sometimes obesity is led by depression too, which is why it can be very hard for the person to deal with it on his own. There is a big possibility that a professional help is needed. Cliffside Malibu, a drug treatment center, is offering their aid to adults who are suffering not only from eating disorders and depression, but also alcoholism, drug addiction and other similar disorders. The alcohol rehab program they are offering is comprehensive and effective to guide the individual in rising up from his depression pit. Expect a combination of alcohol and drug detox, individual therapy, group therapy, alternative medicine and depression treatment. Trust Cliffside Malibu for your drug rehabilitation needs.

To better understand the condition, it’s best to discuss the organ involved: the thyroid gland. This small and lightweight organ, which sits just below the Adam’s apple, influences many of the body’s metabolic functions. It produces tri-iodothyronine (T3) and thyroxine (T4), respectively. The release of the T3 and T4 is triggered by the Thyroid Stimulating Hormone from the pituitary gland situated in the brain. There is a feedback control mechanism that regulates the concentration of the T3 and T4 in the blood and keeps them at a safe level.

The key to understanding hypothyroidism is the function of tri-iodothyronine (T3) and thyroxine (T4), respectively. The disease is the lack of or decrease in the production of the two aforementioned hormones. Both hormones influence the regulation of mitochondria inside and the ‘energy’ that each cell produces, ultimately the function of the organs. Generally, hypothyroidism slows down the body’s metabolism, which results in obesity to patients. Blood lipid tests often show increased levels of cholesterol and impaired liver function. The brain is not spared from this condition. Patients often complain of memory lapses or sluggishness in mental process or thought. This frustrates many and some become depressed since others may not understand that a once active and lively individual can become slow and weak due to low thyroid function.

Affecting children and adults

The most common cause of hypothyroidism is “Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis” which attacks and causes swelling for the thyroid gland. The process slows down the organ’s function thereby decreasing the production of hormones. Another cause is the failure of the pituitary to produce thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH), which is called secondary hypothyroidism. This condition is caused by physical damage to the thyroid from irradiation (from cancer radiotherapy) or surgical removal (due to cancer). A genetic predisposition can also be considered because some infants are born with impaired thyroid function. Children with this condition are prone to developmental problems such as delayed growth and mental progress. The delay of the child’s physical attributes lead to features of cretinism, such as wide set eyes, thin hair, flat nose, abdominal protrusion, mental retardation, and stunting of growth.

Older children have delayed puberty and are at risk of infertility. Participation in sports and active play can become a source of anguish and frustration for these children because of frequent injuries such as joint stiffness, muscle pain, and “clumsiness”. Further, retarded bone development, fractures, and bone contusions can occur and may explain some complaints of bone pain despite minor bumps during play. Fatigue, lethargy and joint stiffness are common manifestations for adults. Early in the course of the disease, the skin becomes dry and hair tend to fall at an increased fate. The skin feels rough and doughy with obvious loss of elasticity despite application of lotion and moisturizers. Sufferers may also experience constipation due to decrease intestinal movement.