Never Getting Sick Isn't Necessarily Healthy (2024)

Have you ever heard someone say, ‘I’m so healthy I never get sick.’?

Let’s talk a little bit more about this because a person who never gets sick isn’t necessarily a good thing. Sometimes what can be happening when a person never gets sick is an infection can be coming into the body and the immune system is not mounting a response to that infectious agent, so we have no symptoms. Infectious agents can be coming the body and can be causing problems within the body that we aren’t aware of, or they can be coming into the body and staying dormant and won’t express themselves until years later, often called stealth infections, can be causing low-grade infections within the body leading to problems down the road.

So sometimes what can be happening is that infections can be coming into the body, and the immune system is not working effectively, so it doesn’t mount that response, then our systems are overtime becoming weaker. Therefore sometimes it is not a good thing when a person says that they are so healthy they never get sick.

What is actually a healthy response is if you come across an infectious agent and you get a little bit of sniffles and a bit of a sore throat, maybe for a short period of time, then your immune system mounts its response and that infection is completely gone. So your body has responded but you haven’t ended up with a full blown cold or you haven’t been laid out sick for a number of days or weeks. So this would be a sign of a healthy immune response, but a person who doesn’t get sick at all is not necessarily a healthy response. There is potential that their immune system is suppressed and you are actually ending up with a low-grade infections in the body or stealth infections which may show up years down the line.

This is something that I will often explain in my clinic because I will have patients that will be diagnosed with a chronic disease like cancer and they will say that ‘they are so surprised that I have cancer because I NEVER get sick. I’m the person who never gets colds or flus, so I’m surprised that I ended up with cancer, because I am typically the healthy person when a cold is going around.’

Never Getting Sick Isn't Necessarily Healthy (2024)

FAQs

Are you healthy if you never get sick? ›

So your body has responded but you haven't ended up with a full blown cold or you haven't been laid out sick for a number of days or weeks. So this would be a sign of a healthy immune response, but a person who doesn't get sick at all is not necessarily a healthy response.

Why do some unhealthy people never get sick? ›

Some of us inherit a set of immune system genes that are particularly good at dealing with one particular virus,” explains Daniel Davis, professor of immunology at the University of Manchester and author of The Compatibility Gene, which explores how immune system genes shape our biology.

Is it true that if you are not sick you are healthy? ›

According to the WHO, health is more than just the absence of sickness; it includes complete physical, mental, and social well-being. Therefore, it is false to say that you are healthy if you are merely not sick, as other factors must be considered.

What does it mean if someone never gets sick? ›

Why Some People Evade Colds And Others Don't People who have built up immunity to common viruses are less likely to get sick. But researchers say it's also possible some people are genetically less susceptible to catching a common cold.

Can a healthy person get sick? ›

Dr. Jassey also specializes in treating ADHD, anxiety, depression, OCD, autism and other mental health issues. Even if you're generally healthy, there's always the possibility of getting sick. However, how often you get sick as a healthy person depends on how your body functions.

Can you get sick from being too healthy? ›

Could being too healthy be bad for your health? The short answer is no. However, it is entirely possible and sadly, becoming more and more common for people to start out with a quest for fitness and end up with a dangerous obsession with exercise and restrictive dieting.

Why do fit people never get sick? ›

Although scientists aren't really sure why, research suggests that consistent exercise gives your immune system a boost. It might be that moderate heart-pumping workouts spark a rise in the germ-fighting cells in your body -- or that they lower stress hormones that can dampen your body's defenses.

Do skinny people get sick easily? ›

If a person does not get enough energy from their diet to maintain a healthy body weight, they may also not be getting enough nutrients to fight off infections. As a result, a person may get sick more frequently, and common illnesses, such as a cold, can last longer than they usually would.

How to build a strong immune system? ›

Here are six science-backed ways to build and maintain a strong, healthy immune system:
  1. Stay up-to-date on recommended vaccines. ...
  2. Maintain a healthy diet. ...
  3. Exercise regularly. ...
  4. Hydrate, hydrate, hydrate. ...
  5. Get plenty of sleep. ...
  6. Minimize stress.
Oct 21, 2022

Does getting sick often mean you're unhealthy? ›

You may get sick more often if you have certain health conditions. It could be related to a vitamin deficiency, dehydration, or diet, among other possibilities. If you get sick often, it may be due to your immune system function or other health conditions that affect it.

How do I know I'm not healthy? ›

Your body often gives signs when something is not right. Stay alert for unusual symptoms like sweating too much, sharp side pain, numb arms or legs, or an ongoing cough. All of these might show an underlying health issue. Make sure to discuss it with a healthcare expert if you have any unusual or worrying symptoms.

How do you know if you are in poor health? ›

Symptoms of a serious illness include:
  1. Severe neck stiffness or pain.
  2. Confusion or extreme irritability.
  3. Extreme sleepiness.
  4. Persistent nausea or vomiting.
  5. Severe sensitivity to light (photophobia).
  6. Unsteadiness that prevents standing or walking (ataxia or vertigo).
  7. New double vision, blurred vision, or blind spots.

Is it good or bad to never get sick? ›

As nice as it would be to never have another sniffle or suffer another fever or get that positive covid test, our bodies actually need sickness to happen on occasion. In fact, a person who gets sick 1-2 times a year is likely to be more healthy than someone who can't remember the last time they got sick.

How often does the average person get sick? ›

Adults average about 2 to 4 colds a year, although the range varies widely. Women, especially those aged 20 to 30 years, have more colds than men, possibly because of their closer contact with children. On average, people older than age 60 have fewer than one cold a year.

How do you know if your immune system is strong? ›

Signs of a strong immune system

People with a strong immune system are more likely to recover quickly from an injury or illness, feel less fatigue and have good gut health.

Is getting sick good for your immune system? ›

Almost no virus is protective against allergic disease or other immune diseases. In fact, infections with viruses mostly either contribute to the development of those diseases or worsen them.

Is it true that health is all about not being sick? ›

Health is a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity. The enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of health is one of the fundamental rights of every human being without distinction of race, religion, political belief, economic or social condition.

Is your immune system weaker after being sick? ›

Our immune systems are often said to have memory, meaning that if an individual has previously been exposed to an infectious bug, such as a virus, specialised immune cells that remember what it looks like will continue to circulate in the blood and body fluids, ready to trigger a rapid immune response should they ...

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