2 ms·

Not exactly. Your immune system actually never takes a break: it's continually working intensely, that's why/when you're not ill most of the time. Case in poi

Not exactly. Your immune system actually never takes a break: it's continually working intensely, that's why/when you're not ill most of the time. Case in point: your body _constantly_ gets "agressions" from bacterias, viruses, germs from the air your breathe, the things/people you touch, the scratches you make, what you eat. When you get symptoms (a flu, a cold, whatever disease), it's because your immune system gets overwhelmed, is working even harder, has a hard time to keep up. When you get exhausted for other reasons (not enough sleep, too much exercise, stress, etc.) your body has less energy for your immune system to work properly. This explains why you easily catch an infection you wouldn't when you're not exhausted.

stjohnswarts 4y ago
It's more like it "got a break" because people were quarantines, so now you haven't had the flu for 3 years it will be less likely to handle it than if you had it last year. Flu spreads primarily via bodily fluids (door knobs, touchy kids, etc) and people are now more likely to get it and a huge swathe of the population hasn't had it in a while, hence this year will likely be a bad one, along with more people who haven't had flu in a while.
- Juliate 4y ago
  Getting the flu is not a requirement for well-being. I've spent several years not getting it, then getting it once, then again not for several years. It's a matter of preventing it (washing hands often, masking in crowded areas, ventilating rooms properly) and helping our body system to be rested/strong (getting enough sleep/rest, dressing warm, drinking enough). And of our own conditions. And luck. Yes, immune system memory is at play, but even with the exact same virus, getting the flux in year 1 doesn't mean you'll not get it in year 2 if your body is unwell already. Moreover, getting the flu (or any infection really) is not a small thing: it can break you down for days, weeks, months and even kill you. Best to avoid it when you can, and be happy when you avoided it. The pseudo darwinist thing of "getting infected trains your immune system / makes you stronger" or "what doesn't kill you makes you stronger" is bs on the other hand.

stjohnswarts 4y ago

It's more like it "got a break" because people were quarantines, so now you haven't had the flu for 3 years it will be less likely to handle it than if you had it last year. Flu spreads primarily via bodily fluids (door knobs, touchy kids, etc) and people are now more likely to get it and a huge swathe of the population hasn't had it in a while, hence this year will likely be a bad one, along with more people who haven't had flu in a while.

Juliate 4y ago
Getting the flu is not a requirement for well-being. I've spent several years not getting it, then getting it once, then again not for several years. It's a matter of preventing it (washing hands often, masking in crowded areas, ventilating rooms properly) and helping our body system to be rested/strong (getting enough sleep/rest, dressing warm, drinking enough). And of our own conditions. And luck. Yes, immune system memory is at play, but even with the exact same virus, getting the flux in year 1 doesn't mean you'll not get it in year 2 if your body is unwell already. Moreover, getting the flu (or any infection really) is not a small thing: it can break you down for days, weeks, months and even kill you. Best to avoid it when you can, and be happy when you avoided it. The pseudo darwinist thing of "getting infected trains your immune system / makes you stronger" or "what doesn't kill you makes you stronger" is bs on the other hand.