Expert: Dr. Kristina Conner - 6/5/2008

Question
I never had cold in my life; like a running nose. I heard that people like this loose their mental stability soon? Is it true? Is it necessary to have cold / flu at times to maintain a healthy body? What can I do if I do not have it. I am otherwise a quite healthy woman at 26.

Answer
Hello Anne,
Thanks for your question.  Most people do occasionally catch a cold, and this can be the sign of a strong immune system if it is infrequent & over quickly.  For those who do not get ill, we are less certain of what this means.  Hopefully, it means that you eat well, stay hydrated, get plenty of sleep & exercise, manage stress efficiently, and started out with a strong immune system from genetics & choices your parents made when you were a child.  However, if you never get a cold because you suppress your immune system, from taking medications at the first sign of a cold, avoiding any contact with pathogens, or loading up on antibacterial products, this is not ideal.  A suppressed immune system will eventually no longer be able to be suppressed, and may then show up as a more serious condition than a cold.  This is theoretical, so it may be that your immune system is fine & has no need for infection.  A positive step you can take is make sure that you are not suppressing you immune system, in the ways I mentioned.  If you avoid those, and eat well, exercise, etc, and still do not get a cold, that's fine too.  Every person's body is different.  Treat yourself well and that is the most important thing, not relying on a certain standard.  
In health,
Dr Conner