Were we always sick like this in past decades?

[Anonymous]

I think when looking at population data you can't overlook decreased physical activity and obesity. Obesity is known to weaken the immune system as is lack of physical activity:

https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6523821/

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2161831323001412#:~:text=In%20addition%20to%20immune%20cells,infection%20(16%2C%2017).

[Anonymous]

I was sick a lot growing up despite being thin (normal BMI thin), playing sports and spending time outside. My immune system was done because I didn't sleep well. Had a very volatile and unpredictable mom which stressed me out. We ate a lot of processed food and she was stingy with fruits and vegetables for anyone but herself despite the fact dad was a high earner. She needed her "me" time so if we were really sick and had a fever rather keep us home, she drugged us up and sent us to school which made it harder to fight off anything.

These days now that the kids are past early elementary we rarely get sick. We eat really healthy, get OK sleep and there is rarely any drama in our house unless the teens bring it.

[Anonymous]

When my now teenagers were toddlers and were sick with strep they picked up from daycare, I had a phone conversation with my grandmother and she said that her kids were never sick like my kids seem to be, they either recovered right away or died.

She didn't say that to be extreme, she had six kids, one of whom died of pneumonia at 18 months old.

[Anonymous]

I had strep and earaches a lot as a child. I come from a large family. I did not have chicken pox though till I was a teenager and I had a really bad case. My husband got chicken pox in medical school and they his professor took photos. He had them on his eyeballs. Terrible. Thank goodness we have vaccine now.

My children were rarely sick.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:When my now teenagers were toddlers and were sick with strep they picked up from daycare, I had a phone conversation with my grandmother and she said that her kids were never sick like my kids seem to be, they either recovered right away or died.

She didn't say that to be extreme, she had six kids, one of whom died of pneumonia at 18 months old.

That really is the truth of it. Kids who were sickly or vulnerable (e.g. preemies, asthmatics, B twins) just didn’t live long. Even if the care was available, most people couldn’t afford it. It was cheaper to just let some kids die and hope your next one was more sturdy.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’m in my late 30s, and my kids, and our whole household, seem to be sick for about two weeks at a time, at least twice every winter. They’re otherwise very healthy, active kids, and we all get flu shots. It doesn’t seem unique to our family either; my coworkers’ kids and my friends’ kids all seem to be constantly sick as well.

I don’t remember being sick this often when I was a kid, and my parents didn’t seem to get sick much either, though maybe memory plays a role. My parents have also said we weren't sick like this, nor were they sick like this as kids. I grew up in Miami, so I wonder if we were less affected by seasonal illnesses there. I remember having strep throat and some kind of enterovirus, but I don’t remember getting the flu every single winter. Are flu and common colds actually worse now than when I was growing up, or does it just feel that way?

everyone is more sick now after covid, it wrecked our immune systems

but no one wants to talk about this

I don't think COVID is any worse on our immune systems than any other virus. However, it's another highly contagious virus, like the flu, that you can get multiple times a year.

It’s well documented that COVID does weaken the immune system, making us more vulnerable to other viruses. A simple google search will yield many links, but here is one;

https://www.cidrap.umn.edu/covid-19/study-covid-can-trigger-changes-immune-system-may-underlie-persistent-symptoms

So do all viruses. COVID is not unique in this respect.

Rhinovirus does not increase the odds that you will get an autoimmune disease thereafter. So COVID is a standout, even if it's not unique.

Assuming that you aren't genetically predisposed to an autoimmune disease, your statement is correct. The flu is not a rhinovirus.

[Anonymous]

I think it's the age of your family, OP. I am in early 50s and we hardly get sick anymore. Fifteen years ago, it was just like your original post.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think it's the age of your family, OP. I am in early 50s and we hardly get sick anymore. Fifteen years ago, it was just like your original post.

This. I didn't get sick much until I had kids. Now they bring home stuff from school all the time.

Looking back I was sick a lot as an elementary school kid. I remember getting strep and being out a whole week plus for chicken pox. My kids have never been out as long as I was for chicken pox thanks to the vaccine.

[Anonymous]

After about age 2, my kids and family have been much much healthier than I expected. I thought daycare and school would impact us but we are hardly ever sick with anything. I actually think it's because every time an adult gets a cold they "know" it's covid and stay home rather than share it at work.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I’m in my late 30s, and my kids, and our whole household, seem to be sick for about two weeks at a time, at least twice every winter. They’re otherwise very healthy, active kids, and we all get flu shots. It doesn’t seem unique to our family either; my coworkers’ kids and my friends’ kids all seem to be constantly sick as well.

I don’t remember being sick this often when I was a kid, and my parents didn’t seem to get sick much either, though maybe memory plays a role. My parents have also said we weren't sick like this, nor were they sick like this as kids. I grew up in Miami, so I wonder if we were less affected by seasonal illnesses there. I remember having strep throat and some kind of enterovirus, but I don’t remember getting the flu every single winter. Are flu and common colds actually worse now than when I was growing up, or does it just feel that way?

We are mid 50s, and our children are in their 20s. None of us was sick last winter or this winter. We travel internationally twice already since November, and taking another trip in February. I had my fist covid in spring 2024 (which was very mild) and I never had flu in my life (I also never had flu vaccine).

I would check your diet, and your immune system. It is not normal to be sick this often.

[Anonymous]

I (45F) was way sicker as a kid than my kids (11 and 8) ever get. I remember missing almost an entire week of school every winter for a bad flu, plus a random day here and there for a cold, stomach bugs, etc.

My kids, even when they were in daycare, are rarely sick.

[Anonymous]

People definitely don't look as healthy. The population looks sickly compared to pre 2000