Falling sick and such ...

quixotedlm said:
re dancing with people with cold -

generally, when common cold is in its contagious phase, we are not showing much obvious symptoms. the general consensus seems to be that the contagious phase is about 2-3 days duration, and is before the person starts showing symptoms.

after that, if that person can take it, it's pretty much not a special source of contagion. so i never worry about being around people who are showing symptoms, or dancing with them. i've never picked up cold from dancing (even though i don't wash my hands during a dance, and only shower the next day morning).
Click to expand...

That's another good point. So you might as well not worry about it, since you won't be able to identify the contagious people anyway.

Just stay away from the smoke. (But not the smooches.)
 
I'm sorry you're not feeling well!

You could look at it as your first year of teaching kindergarten/elementary school. Most teachers or those who work with young kids who are frequently sick at any given time, swear that in their first year they caught everything that came by, and then they built a tougher immune system. Thespina's right, we are built to be around people & be healthy, so I don't think your "multiple dance partners" theory is on. Have you asked/noticed if those who only dance with 5 people stay healthier than those who don't? I've also noticed that the more selective dancers also tend to show up for shorter periods of time/leave earlier (in NM) -- maybe they're getting more sleep also?

I'd echo all the stuff about self-care that others said (though not necessarily promise to doing it all the time). Things I do when I'm worried about health stuff/feeling vulnerable to stuff going around: try to get more sleep, go to the acupuncturist, wash hands more frequently, drink EmergenC, not dance as many songs in an evening...

If I dance w/someone who's showing the signs of stuff or have super-tobacco-y hands (eww! wash your hands after you smoke & then plan on touching people!), I go wash my hands afterwards & am conscious about touching my face.

And whatever your thought is on the period of contagion, could you maybe say to your friend, "Hey, you know I'd love to dance w/you, but my immune system's feeling kind of low & I want to be extra-careful (even if you're feeling fine), can I take a rain check?" or you can do the evasive "I'm sitting this one out" avoiding her thing, but that's not fun.

Even if they're not really contagious, I think hanging out w/sick people can make you *feel* sick, which is kinda like the negative thinking aspect...

Oh, and yeah: cigarette smoke is unpleasant & definitely weakens the body. You could always consider coming more often to Santa Fe where smoking inside is banned. :)
 
When I say I wash a lot I mean before I go out, before and after the bathroom, and before and after eating. That's 5 times more than many guys!

Yes, the point about sweaty clothes is probably relevant! I towel-dry my hair and change to a dry tshirt and warm outers before leaving the venue: that sudden drop in temperature is a great way to knock your immune system, especially for ladies whose midriffs are often exposed!
 
Just wanted to add. Every time I get a cold, I look back at two things over the last week. How was I eating? Was I drinking alcohol? Was I staying hyrdated?
I came down with the first signs of a cold at work yesterday. So, last week, I guess I was eating OK, not great, not bad, until Friday. Friday lunchtime I went to the pub with my coworkers. Food was pretty much vegtable free, had a beer, it was smokey. Friday night I went out, had two pints of cider in a smokey bar, (and a pint of water!) then waited in the cold for 30mins for my bus. That was a late night, followed by an early morning, which I skipped breakfast.

I think we have my immune system low point.
 
sweavo said:
When I say I wash a lot I mean before I go out, before and after the bathroom, and before and after eating. That's 5 times more than many guys!
Click to expand...

Yeah I do the same and works for me too.

sweavo said:
Yes, the point about sweaty clothes is probably relevant! I towel-dry my hair and change to a dry tshirt and warm outers before leaving the venue: that sudden drop in temperature is a great way to knock your immune system, especially for ladies whose midriffs are often exposed!
Click to expand...

I don't have such a problem with clothing as I wear a t-shirt underneath my dance shirt and I choose my dance shirts carefully and are always material that stays dry for most of the night and dries quickly afterwards.

Also wearing a fleece is a good idea over the top of your shirt when you leave.
 
sweavo said:
When I say I wash a lot I mean before I go out, before and after the bathroom, and before and after eating. That's 5 times more than many guys!
Click to expand...

Oye, I can't stand watching a guy in a public restroom walk straight from the toilet and out the door... I'm like... ooookay--not going to shake his hand later. What's worse though, is, if you work in an office, knowing the guys who have good hygiene and those who don't, and then having them touch your things when they come to your desk, etc... yikes.
 
Here's a nasty little eye-opener for you Josh: Women do this too. It always makes me want to give them a lecture on basic hygiene.

For the posters who are saying it's natural to be exposed to others' germs:

I dunno, our immune systems evolved in little bands of hunter-gatherers. They're not meant to contend with the results of the population explosion, international travel, etc. The guy you're dancing with tonight could have been in India the day before yesterday, picking up any variety of exotic bugs. (Isn't that how the conquistadores wiped out the Aztecs and the Inca? With their foreign pox germs?)

Btw I'm of the opinion that what doesn't kill you makes you stronger... based on how often I've been getting sick lately, salsa must be turning me into Superwoman... :mad:
 
Salsa make me feel good, and feeling good is positive for the health.

I never noticed any side effects, except being in a better mood and with more energy when I leave then when I arrived.
 
LoL I thought I was getting sick on Saturday night, and then I drank it into submission. Knock on wood.

Oh... and I don't normally do that. Really. I'm not... like... that.... er... :oops:


:rocker:
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Dance Ads

Advertise on Dance Forums Reach dancers, teachers, studios, event organizers, and dance-friendly brands. View ad options
Back
Top