Always Sick? There May Be a Reason
You catch every cold at the office. A minor sore throat turns into bronchitis. Urinary tract infections keep coming back. You barely recover from one illness before the next one hits. If this sounds like your life, you are not simply “unlucky” – there are identifiable reasons why some people are more susceptible to infections, and most of them are treatable.
At our practice in Zürich Seefeld, I take recurrent infections seriously. Rather than just prescribing another round of antibiotics, I investigate why your immune system is not doing its job.
What Counts as “Too Many” Infections?
In adults, more than two to three significant respiratory infections per year, recurrent sinusitis, repeated urinary tract infections, or infections that last longer than expected or require frequent antibiotics warrant investigation. The threshold is not exact – what matters is the pattern and the impact on your quality of life.
Common Causes of Recurrent Infections
Nutrient deficiencies: Vitamin D, zinc, iron, and selenium deficiencies impair multiple arms of the immune response. These are the first things I test, and correcting them often transforms the situation.
Chronic stress and burnout: Sustained cortisol elevation suppresses lymphocyte proliferation and natural killer cell activity. Many patients notice they get sick during or immediately after periods of intense stress.
Poor sleep: Even modest sleep restriction (less than seven hours) significantly reduces immune surveillance. People who sleep less than six hours are four times more likely to catch a cold when exposed to the virus.
Gut dysbiosis: An imbalanced microbiome cannot properly train and regulate immune responses. Antibiotic overuse – ironically, often given for the recurrent infections themselves – worsens this cycle.
Undiagnosed diabetes or prediabetes: Elevated blood sugar impairs white blood cell function and increases susceptibility to bacterial and fungal infections.
Subclinical immunodeficiency: Rarely, recurrent infections point to an underlying immune deficiency – low immunoglobulin levels (IgA, IgG subclasses) or complement deficiency. These are uncommon but important to identify.
Anatomical factors: Nasal polyps, deviated septum, or urinary tract structural abnormalities can predispose to recurrent localised infections.
Our Diagnostic Approach
I start with comprehensive blood work: complete blood count with differential, immunoglobulins (IgA, IgG, IgM, IgG subclasses), vitamin D, zinc, iron studies, selenium, HbA1c, and inflammatory markers. Depending on the pattern, I may also assess cortisol rhythm, gut health, or refer for specialist immunological evaluation.
What We Do: Breaking the Cycle
Correct nutrient deficiencies: Targeted supplementation with vitamin D, zinc, selenium, and iron where indicated – often with dramatic results within weeks.
Rebuild gut immunity: Restoring microbiome diversity with targeted probiotics, prebiotic fibres, and dietary changes. Reducing unnecessary antibiotic use is critical.
Optimise sleep and stress: Practical strategies for improving sleep quality and managing the chronic stress that silently undermines immune function.
Address blood sugar: If prediabetes or insulin resistance is found, dietary and lifestyle interventions to normalise glucose metabolism.
Preventive protocols: Seasonal immune support strategies, evidence-based supplementation during high-risk periods, and vaccination review.
Infusion therapy: For patients with severe or multiple deficiencies, intravenous vitamin and mineral therapy can rapidly replenish immune-critical nutrients.
Conclusion
Recurrent infections are a signal, not a sentence. By identifying and addressing the underlying factors that weaken your immune system, we can break the cycle. If you are tired of being sick and want to understand why, book a consultation at our practice in Zürich Seefeld.
