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DEAR DR. ROACH: My 22-year-old daughter gets sick often. She’s a nursing student and in the hospitals often for her clinicals, but she always tries to wash her hands often and takes a multivitamin. Are there any supplements she can take or anything she can do to boost her immunity?
She also has about 10 gray hairs. I didn’t start going gray until I was in my 30s. My husband started getting grays at age 20. Could it be genetic or stress-related that this is happening at 22 already? -- L.R.
ANSWER: Congratulations to your daughter! Nurses remain the most trusted medical professional and a fundamental part of good medical care. We need more great nurses.
Washing hands is a very good way to prevent infection, but multivitamins probably don’t do anything to “boost immunity.” In fact, no supplements do, and more importantly, you wouldn’t want them to since the immune system must remain balanced. This means killing off invaders like bacteria and stopping cancer cells before they get out of control, but not attacking the body’s own cells.
An autoimmune disease is the danger of an overactive immune system. The immune system is really good, but bacteria and other pathogens are constantly adapting; cancers likewise find ways to escape the immune system. If you’re often exposed to people with infections, it’s almost inevitable for you to get some colds and other viruses. However, getting some kinds of infections repeatedly could signify an uncommon or rare immunodeficiency.
Since nursing school is a lot like medical school in terms of stress, with long days and nights of studying and many hours in the hospital and clinic, I’d advise her to take as good care of herself as possible. Adequate sleep and regular exercise will do more for her immune system and overall health than any supplements.
Gray hairs are genetically determined to a large extent, and a few gray hairs in one’s 20s isn’t unusual, even if most people start getting them in their 30s. People from European backgrounds tend to get gray hairs earlier than people with Asian and African ancestry. Obesity and smoking can make gray hairs appear earlier.
DEAR DR. ROACH: I’m a 78-year-old female who recently had a total hip replacement for severe bone-on-bone arthritis. I was having terrible thigh pain. I am now seven weeks out from surgery and don’t have any hip problems at all or pain. However, I can’t get rid of the walker due to balance problems and a fear of falling.
I do have spinal stenosis and wonder if this could be the cause. I am trying to use a cane but don’t yet feel secure or stable enough to walk without the walker. I am working on balance exercises in therapy but see little improvement. — M.W.
ANSWER: It isn’t uncommon for people to have difficulty with balance after a hip replacement, especially if they were very debilitated before the surgery. Many muscles need to be strong and carefully coordinated for a person to walk easily with good balance and without fear. It can take weeks or months to rebuild these muscles and coordinate movement again, so your symptoms may not be an effect of spinal stenosis. It may just take more time.
However, if your physical therapist (you should ideally be working with one) feels that you aren’t making progress and haven’t reached your goals, a reevaluation with a neurologist or a physiatrist is a smart idea. An imaging study or nerve test may be necessary.
Dr. Roach regrets that he is unable to answer individual letters, but will incorporate them in the column whenever possible. Readers may email questions to ToYourGoodHealth@med.cornell.edu. (c) 2026 North America Syndicate Inc.
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