Get Sick At Work

Hi All!

I work every weekend night shift. I feel like every weekend or at least many of them I leave sick. This past weekend I literally felt a chest cold coming on thru the night shift, and by morning totally lost my voice, coughing. I know working night shift is bad for the immunity but its what I do. I have airborne I just started. I just don't know how to get my immunity up where I can fight this stuff off. It doesn't help to have patients coughing all over you for 12 hours straight.
Any suggestions or comments?
wear a masktalk to your healthcare provider to see if you need to be evaluated for low immunityconsider that the environment may be the culprit - like cleaning fluids and other chemicals in the bldg.get plenty of sleep

To build up your immunity you have to take measures such as; cutting down on meat and increasing fruits and vegetables, lots of water, increase vit C and zinc, cut down on any alcohol or tobacco, exercise, sleep and get plenty of rest, reduce your stress, you see where I'm going here? Healthy lifestyle will produce a healthy you. Magnesium is another that is good for you that we often don't have enough of.Monthly fasts/detox or cleaning yourself out once a month is also a good idea. It's all about lifestyle; lots and lots of dark green leafy veggies are your friend.Also; I can't say enough about frame of mind. Healthy attitude reduces stress therefore attaining one of the goals.

Quote from tyvin Magnesium is another that is good for you that we often don't have enough of.Monthly fasts/detox or cleaning yourself out once a month is also a good idea.

I've been a nurse for a long time. The first few years I caught every germ that was around me, plus various viruses, from my two grade school kiddies at home. Over the years I've noticed that I rarely get sick. I guess my immune system got stronger through the years. Plus, I was a stay at home mom before going to nursing school, literally, I didn't get my drivers license til I was 29. So when I was thrown into the "world of germs", they got me good. Nothing scientific in my reasoning, just my opinion.

I've got two rules: Get plenty of sleep. Never ever ever touch your face while you're at work for any reason. I can trace back just about every time I've gotten sick to the times I broke one or both of those rules.

Get enough REGULAR sleep (not 2 hours after work, then 2 hours before work- you need a good CHUNK of sleep at a time) Eat healthy foods. EXERCISE! I caught every bug there was my first year working. My immune system got better after the first year. I would see your doctor just to rule out any immune issues, though. It can't hurt!

No matter what you do it will get better as time goes along. After 20 years on nights you are immune to every bug on the planet. In the mean time- I swear by Vita C, Vita E, and Zinc- big doses whenever I feel even the slightest sign of a resp. infection comming on. I've only had 2 "colds" in the last 10 years. Can't swear it was the meds- but it can't hurt. I think the Red Cross should offer nurses a bonus to donate, our plasma is the cure to the common cold.

Thanks everyone for comments. I do not get enough sleep and I know this is a factor. I also do not excercise enough. I have tons of excuses like I have a two year old keeping me busy,,, but I know its what I need to do. Just things I have to work on. I have been nursing for 2 years so I imagine as the years go by my immune system will get stronger.

I haven't had a cold or respiratory issue since my kids were younger and in school. That's been about 6 yrs now. Everyone will get sick in the family with a cold but me. I do work nights and sleep at least 7 hrs during the day and always take vitamins with a snack before going in to work. It just takes some time I think to build your immune system up when you're in a new environment. But I would def visit your MD to get his/her advice!

A multivitamin every day, lots of fresh juices, and wash your hands twice as much as you usually do if you are around people that are dripping from anywhere.