Why Immunity is Paramount to be Healthy Now?
Maintaining a good level of immunity is imperative to enjoying good health. In the present Corona Virus Covid19 colossal health disaster world-wide, immunity acquires paramount significance to tide over this pandemic in a best possible healthy way by improving our immunity.
What is Immune System
The immune system comprises a complex network of cells and proteins which defends the human body against attacks of infection. It protects the body from disease or any potentially damaging foreign bodies. The immune system keeps a record of every germ (microbe) it has defeated in the past, so it can recognise and destroy the microbe quickly if it enters the body again.
When functioning properly, the immune system identifies and attacks a variety of threats, including viruses, bacteria and parasites, while distinguishing them from the body’s own healthy tissue. Abnormalities of the immune system can lead to allergic diseases, immunodeficienceis and autoimmune disorders.
3 important functions of the immune system
The immune system offers the body protection against disease. This health protection is called immunity. Humans have three types of immunity — innate, adaptive, and passive: Innate immunity: Everyone is born with innate (or natural) immunity, a type of general protection.
The adaptive immune system which is also known as the acquired immune system, is a subsystem of the immune system that is composed of specialized, systemic cells and processes that eliminates pathogens by preventing their growth.
Passive immunity is provided when a person is given antibodies to a disease rather than producing them through his or her own immune system. A newborn baby acquires passive immunity from its mother through the placenta.
Symptoms of Weak Immune System
Autoimmune disorders.
Inflammation of the internal organs.
Blood disorders or abnormalities, such as anemia.
Digestive issues, including loss of appetite, diarrhea, and abdominal cramping.
Growth and developmental delays in infants and children.
The Critical Role of Immune System
The role of our immune system is to protect us from any foreign substances known as antigens that could harm the body. The antigens include bacteria, viruses, parasites, and fungi. When these organisms are found in the body, they trigger the immune system, which, in return, try to destroy the antigen with various mechanisms.
We can link the health of the immune system to so many aspects of our life. The food we eat, the quality of our sleep, and the level of stress are all things that are within our control to supercharge our body. In the following guide, we will provide you various steps that you can implement today to strengthen your immunity.
But first, let’s do a little checklist to assess your lifestyle and how well you do on the immune system.
Check all that applies to you:
Ear infection yearly
Use antibiotics at least once a year
Reoccurring Skin issues like rash or inflammation
Autoimmune disease
Susceptible to infections
Suffer from colds or flu every year
Feel tired or exhausted often
Take medications regularly
Live a sedentary lifestyle (do not exercise regularly)
Experience daily stress
Lack of sleep or insomnia
Often eat out or prepared meals from the store
Smoke
Eat fewer than 3 servings of fruits and vegetables per day
Have 1–2 alcohol drinks per day
Eat sweets every day (candy, chocolate, ice cream, etc.)
The more that applies to you, the less resilient is your immune system. Some of the things above are avoidable like food and drinks; some can’t be changed immediately like an autoimmune disease.
Your immune system is your number one defence mechanism against intruders such as bacteria or viruses that can make you very ill. It is imperative to make sure that you stay healthy throughout the year and put all the chances on your side to boost your immune system. To do so, here are five steps to help you avoid being sick with a cold or flu.
1. Eating Well
Eating well means getting good amount of fruits and vegetables in your system and stay hydrated. Enough that you get many nutrients and antioxidants to help strengthen your immune system.
2. Practice good hygiene
Good hygiene means bathing regularly and washing your hands every time you cough, sneeze, after going to the bathroom, before preparing and eating food. It’s also a good practice to be aware of not touching your face when you are in a public space where you can’t wash your hand regularly. Having hand sanitizer in your purse or pocket can be very handy in those situations.
Anyone can work at building their immune system and increase their chances of staying healthy during a flu season and in particular during the present pandemic caused by Corona Virus.
3. Stay hydrated
Drinking plenty of fluids will help your body flush the toxins that could cause sickness. 75% of people are dehydrated consistently, and that’s probably one of the main reasons why most of us get sick or don’t recover fast from illness. Water is essential to flush any toxins from our body. If we don’t have enough water, we can’t get rid of the toxins fast enough. Toxins can be in the form of viruses or bacteria. Drinking plenty of water can fight off infection. You can start increasing your water consumption by always having a bottle with you that you can refill. It is recommended to get around 2 to 3 liters of water per day.
4. Adequate sleep and rest time
Sleep is critical to ensure that your immune system is functioning optimally. So you need to make sure that you get adequate sleep of 7 to eight hours per day. Having sufficient sleep will increase the ability of the body’s white cells to fight illnesses and reduce symptoms connected to the common cold and flu. To get good rest, try to implement a bedtime routine that allows you to get your hours of sleep.
5. Manage your stress
Stress and stressful situations significantly contribute to illnesses and can be detrimental to our immune system. The more stress reduction activities you can bring in your life, the stronger your immune system will become.
Most Important – Change Your Mindset
You can change your mindset by being more positive and live in the present moment. According to studies across the world, positivism is a trait that increases your health and reduces your chances of being sick from a virus. Not only is the immune system of optimistic people more robust, but they also show signs of being healthier in general.
Focusing on gratitude is a great way to start improving your attitude. Finding things that you are grateful for will help you see the best in everything. A nice way to have a happy mind is by writing in a journal the daily gratitude that you want to express.
Finally if you know how to make yourself happy in any situation and follow a healthy lifestyle will help you build a resilient immune system that can withstand antigens and viruses. This way you have more chances of staying healthy and also helps you recover faster in case of any illness.
