Why People Get Sick in Michigan Winter, and What Actually Helps (From a Nurse)
By Olivia Clemons, registered nurse and founder of The LivWell Experience.
Every November, the coughing starts. Your coworker has it, your kid brings it home, and you wonder why people get sick in Michigan winters more often.
I get asked about this constantly, and here's the honest version: it's not you, it's winter. There's also no magic fix, but there are plenty of small things that work, and a few of them aren't what you'd expect. Let's get into it.
Why Do People Get Sick in Michigan Winter?
Winter stacks the odds against you because several things happen at once.
You're indoors with everyone else. Same air, same door handles, same break room. Germs spread easily in closed spaces.
Indoor heating dries the air. Dry air irritates your nose and throat, which is one of your body's first barriers against germs. Germs also hang around longer in dry air.
We get less sunlight. Less sun means less vitamin D, which supports normal immune function.
Cold air may weaken your nose. In a lab study on human nasal tissue, even a small drop in temperature reduced the particles your nose uses to block viruses (study on human nasal tissue). Covering up outside is an easy habit that can't hurt.
Stress, travel, sugar, and short nights add up. The holidays can quietly drain the habits that were holding things together.
What are 5 signs of a weak immune system?
Getting sick a lot, staying sick long, or healing slowly can be clues. Here are the patterns worth paying attention to:
You catch colds or other infections much more often than the people around you.
Infections take unusually long to clear, or keep coming back.
Cuts and scrapes heal slowly.
You feel tired much of the time, even after a full night of sleep.
You need repeated rounds of antibiotics for infections.
Stress, poor sleep, and low iron can look the same. If a few of these sound like you, bring it up at your next checkup. Basic blood work can answer a lot.
What are the signs of a strong immune system?
You rarely get sick, and when you do, it's mild and over fast. That's it. You bounce back, you heal normally, and your energy holds steady. A healthy immune system works quietly in the background, which is exactly what you want.
How can I strengthen my immune system during winter?
Five basics do most of the work: sleep, colorful food, movement, clean hands, and vaccines. Here is the advice I give every client.
Sleep.
Your body does much of its repair work while you sleep, and most adults do best with 7 to 9 hours. Short sleep makes it harder to fight off infections.
Eat a colorful plate.
Whole foods like fruits and vegetables work better together than isolated nutrients, and heavily processed foods tend to offer less of what your immune system needs. Good winter picks:
Vitamin C: citrus, kiwi, bell peppers, broccoli, and berries.
Zinc: beans, nuts, seeds, seafood, and lean meats.
Gut-friendly foods: yogurt, kefir, and kimchi, which support the gut bacteria your immune system relies on.
Move your body.
About 30 minutes of moderate activity five days a week is a common goal for most adults. Indoor options like walking, stretching, or dancing in your living room count!
Wash your hands.
Seriously. It's one of the most effective things you can do. Regular handwashing lowers colds and similar respiratory illnesses by about 16% to 21%, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
Stay current on vaccines. The flu vaccine and updated COVID boosters lower your risk of getting seriously ill. Ask your provider what fits your age and health.
Small habits that matter more than you think:
Watch the drinks. Cold, dark evenings make it easy to pour an extra glass. Heavy drinking can throw off the gut bacteria your immune system relies on, and it disrupts your sleep too.
Fix your air. If your home air is dry, run a humidifier, especially in the bedroom. Clean it regularly and don't overdo it, since too much moisture feeds dust mites and mold. Keep a saline nasal spray handy, and get allergies treated instead of brushing them off (why allergies flare up in winter).
Clean what you touch. Wipe down your phone, keyboard, desk, and door handles regularly during peak season.
Give stress somewhere to go. A short walk, stretching, or ten quiet minutes helps your sleep, and good sleep helps everything else.
Stop touching your face. Easier said than done, but it's how a lot of germs get in.
Stay hydrated on purpose. Cold weather dulls your thirst, so you drink less without noticing. Keep a water bottle where you can see it.
What is the best vitamin to take in winter?
If I had to pick one to talk about with your provider, it would be vitamin D. Michigan gets very little usable sunlight from late fall through early spring. Food sources include salmon and other fatty fish, eggs, fortified milk, and some mushrooms. The general adult recommendation is 600 IU a day, but your own needs depend on your blood level. More isn't better, and very high doses can cause problems. Ask your provider about a simple blood test before buying a supplement.
Other vitamins people ask about:
Vitamin C doesn't stop most colds, but it may shorten them slightly.
Zinc may shorten a cold if you start it within a day of the first symptoms.
Food comes first. Supplements can fill a gap, but they don't replace a balanced diet. Always check with your provider before starting supplements, especially if you take medications, are pregnant, or have a health condition.
What is the quickest way to boost your immune system? Is there a best immune booster?
The short answer is that there is no instant fix, and no single best booster. Immune health comes from giving your body what it needs, consistently.
Your immune system works best with enough rest, nutrients, fluids, and protection from germs. Winter makes each of those harder, so supporting your body works better than trying to "boost" it.
The one step with a target date is your flu shot. It takes about two weeks to build protection, so aim to get yours by the end of October. If you miss that window, it's still worth getting later in the season, since flu can circulate well into spring. Ask your provider about other vaccines based on your age and health.
When the basics are hard to keep up: where IV therapy fits
IV therapy can support your hydration and nutrient needs when your routine falls behind, but it doesn't replace sleep, food, vaccines, or medical care.
You may be recovering from a stomach bug or flu after a trip, exhausted from a stretch of long shifts or intense training, or struggling to keep up with fluids. This is where IV hydration and vitamin therapy can play a supportive role.
Here is how I explain it to clients. An IV delivers fluids and nutrients directly into the bloodstream, so it can rehydrate you faster than drinking when your body is struggling to take in fluids. It won't cure colds or flu, and for most healthy people it works best alongside the habits above.
A licensed nurse reviews your health history, medications, and goals first, so your IV is safe and matched to what your body needs.
LivWell IV Drips for winter and travel
Our mobile IV team offers several drips that fit this season:
Liv Immunity: Vitamin C, zinc, B vitamins, and antioxidants. More time in shared air and fewer healthy habits are a hard combination for your defenses. This drip delivers immune-supporting nutrients directly when your routine is stretched thin.
Liv Energy: B vitamins, B12, and magnesium. Short days, late nights, and a full schedule can drain you. These nutrients help your body make and use energy, so it's extra support when caffeine isn't enough.
Liv Rescue: Fluids, electrolytes, and key nutrients. Cold air and dry indoor heat can leave you mildly dehydrated without you noticing, and that is a common, overlooked cause of tiredness, headaches, and poor focus. Rescue replaces fluids directly, which also helps after travel, a stomach bug, or a hard workout.
Liv Classic (Myers' Cocktail): A well-known blend of vitamins and minerals. Stress, travel, and a packed calendar can raise your nutrient needs while your meals and sleep slip. This gives broad support in one visit and is a good starting point if you're new to IV therapy.
When to call a doctor instead
Don't wait it out if you have trouble breathing, chest pain, confusion, a high or lasting fever, or you can't keep fluids down. Also get checked if a cold hasn't improved after a couple of weeks.
The takeaway: staying well in a Michigan winter
Michigan winters are long, with short days and dry heated air indoors, so supporting your body takes steady effort. Sleep, balanced meals, regular movement, better indoor air, clean hands, hydration, and your vaccines make the biggest difference. When travel, a busy schedule, or illness knocks your routine off track, extra support like IV hydration can help you get back to it. If something still feels off after a couple of weeks, check in with a provider.
At The LivWell Experience, our nurse-led mobile IV team brings that support to you in the private space of your choice across Metro Detroit, whether that's home, work, or a hotel. Book a consultation.
This article is for education and isn't medical advice. Talk with your own provider about your health.
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