It takes a lot of energy to be ill...

 

 

Not surprisingly, when we succumb to any of the various lurgies doing the rounds – and regardless of the time of year – our focus is quite simple and twofold. How bad we feel AND wanting to get rid of it as soon as possible. However, we rarely stop to think of what’s happening from our body’s point of view. In other words, all the work happening behind the scenes to help speed things on their way. Put another way, just how much effort and energy is involved in being ill. 

 

And, yes, we know this sounds like a rather strange thing to say but, please, bear with us. It’ll all make sense in a minute. Yes, it will! 

We’re simply not used to thinking about things from our body’s point of view. However, once we do, not only do we gain a completely different perspective, but a much greater appreciation of the miracle that is the human body and one we take so much for granted. 

 

If you’ve been unlucky enough to have Flu – or something similar (!) – the one thing you’re likely to remember above all others, was how exhausted you felt. As one Client so eloquently put it years ago, if someone had offered him a £50 note to get out of bed and go downstairs, he wouldn’t have been able to do it. 

 

Why is that? 

 

Quite simply, it takes a lot of energy to mobilise a full Immune System response. And we’re not just talking about producing and deploying all the necessary antibodies and white blood cells to handle the infection. 

 

In the case of Flu – as with many acute illnesses – there’s also an increase in body temperature. This is designed to make the body less hospitable to the infection, as well as helping stimulate the Immune System response. Not to mention all the mucus, catarrh and snot (!) which help clear the system and so play a vital part in the healing process as well. Oh and don’t forget the rashes in those lovely spotty childhood diseases, like Measles or Chicken Pox. 

 

From the body’s point of view ANY infection is a potential threat. So, it makes sense to divert energy to where it’s needed most. The Immune System response. This means that any energy not needed to maintain basic life supporting functions – breathing, keep the heart beating, etc – will be redeployed to help strengthen the Immune System response. For example, a temporary damping down of the Digestive System as well as the ability to think clearly. 

 

In other words, it’s rather like the body calling out all its front line troops plus their support staff and equipment. To do this, much of the non essential and routine work has to be postponed and left for another day. 

 

While it’s much easier to see this happening in an acute infection like Flu, the same process takes place whatever the illness. It’s just the intensity – and length – of the Immune System response which varies. 

 

So, for a Cold, less energy would need to be diverted away from normal body functions to the Immune System. And for a relatively short time too, a few days or a week at most. However, this would be enough to make you feel more tired or irritable than usual. Perhaps not so quick on the uptake mentally. 

 

This is the reason why we always advocate taking things easy when you have ANY acute illness. If you try to struggle on, all you’re doing is preventing your Immune System from getting the resources it needs to deal with the infection as quickly and efficiently as possible. 

It then takes longer to clear and, often, you’re left feeling “under the weather” needing more recuperation time afterwards. It’s no coincidence that many cases of Chronic Fatigue or ME can be traced back an earlier dose of Flu or Glandular Fever, which the body was never given the necessary time – or resources – to completely resolve. 

 

But what about chronic ongoing health issues? Rheumatoid Arthritis. Parkinsons Disease. And the like. 

 

Well, it’s exactly the same process, albeit at a much lower level. This can make it much less easy to see and is often masked by symptoms of the chronic ongoing illness. Perhaps the person finds logically thinking through problems more difficult. Forgets things. Gets tired more quickly. Or is just “out of sorts.” 

 

However, by a strange twist of fate, this often seems to make the person less prone to acute illnesses like Colds or Flu. It’s as though there simply isn’t sufficient “spare” energy to do a full blown acute Immune System response. 

 

Instead, what seems to happen is the person becomes more generally unwell on an ongoing basis, as the body attempts to deal with both the ongoing problem and a lower grade form of the acute illness. This may be in the form of catarrh or a cough that just doesn’t seem to clear. 

 

Now we’ve looked at things from a completely different perspective, let’s go one stage further and ask what seems like a strange question. If you rarely get a Cold or the Flu, is that a good thing or a bad one? 

 

If you answered that it’s obviously a good thing, you’d be right. But only some of the time. 

 

Why is that? 

 

Well, on the plus side, it could mean you’re healthy with good energy levels and a strong Immune System. Able to deal with most infections you come into contact with. Or, put another way, your susceptibility is low. Hurrah! 

 

However – and here’s the rub – as suggested above, it could also indicate a chronic ongoing health issue and so lower energy levels. The body simply doesn’t have the necessary resources to be able to do the necessary full Immune System response. 

 

And we should quickly add that it’s not just ongoing chronic illnesses which can have this effect. Stress or exhaustion in all its guises, as well as an unresolved grief or trauma, can similarly drain the energy reserves, so leaving insufficient resources to produce a full Immune System response. 

 

The bottom line is that an occasional Cold, Flu or the like (!) isn’t necessarily a bad thing. It acts as a great workout for the Immune System. And that’s without the detoxing effects of a raised temperature and all that snot or mucus (!). 

 

The key is making sure your body has all the necessary resources it needs to be able to handle any infection quickly and efficiently. Taking things easy for a day or two – or longer. Keeping up the fluids. Eating a light and healthy diet. Topping up on Vitamins C and D, along with Zinc and, perhaps, Echinacea. And don’t forget our old friend pineapple or pineapple juice, which makes a very soothing drink topped up with hot water. It’s really not complicated and makes a huge difference to how quickly you bounce back. 

 

We know that all the emphasis these days is on soldiering on regardless – and you’re a wimp if you don’t. It’s seen as a badge of honour to drag yourself into work / college / somewhere else, so everyone can see what a hero you were in making it there out of your sick bed. Even better, passing it on to those around you – assuming, of course, they’re also susceptible to whatever it is – so everyone knows just how bad you felt (!). But all this does is cause more problems, whether now or in the future. Trust us. We see the consequences far too often. 

 

As always, the choice is yours.