Why Do I Get Colds So Easily? Expert Advice for Frequent Infections

Question
Dear Dr.

I am a 52 year old female in fair health. I certainly am not in "bad health" but would say it is mediocre.

I have read that you don't catch a cold from cold weather but always when it starts to get cold, I start to get a cold!

It is Oct 1 today but even as of yesterday I had a cold. The weather here in NY has changed and gotten "cold" already on a couple of days.

Do you have any idea why I would catch colds so easily? Last winter I had to go to the MD 3 times for severe cold and got a z-pack each time. MD was surprised but not shocked. Apparently most of his patients that present with the same symptoms were not back as many times. I would get sore throat, sneezing and dripping nose.

Thank you.

Answer
colds are from virus' that are passed around from person to person.... sneezing in someone's face will surely pass it along... wiping your nose, then shaking hands, then the other person wipes their nose also will pass them along.  When weather changes, people tend to be inside more, closer together and more likely to pass colds around... also, kids pass them around when school starts back, since they are packed together in rooms.   Most of these are viral, which don't require zpaks or other antibiotics unless you get a secondary bacterial infection on top of it.  And a simple cold like sneezing, clear drainage and some congestion don't require antibiotics