How to strengthen the immunity of an adult? Do you want to strengthen immunity to survive the winter without disease? Do you know how? Let's talk about 7 misconceptions concerning immunity.
The immune system can be strengthened with the help of vitamin C.
Almost everyone is convinced that with the help of vitamin C it is possible to strengthen the immune system. But this is absolutely not the case: one who receives vitamin C on a daily basis can not prevent any infection. Only when you have a cold, vitamin C will help to slightly cope with the symptoms. Zinc also does not help with colds and strengthens immunity is not as strong as many believe, although many "defensive strategies" swear by the miraculous power of zinc.
Preference should be given to another substance - vitamin D. Solar vitamin, which is formed, primarily in the skin when absorbing ultraviolet rays, activates the killer cells, and therefore is simply necessary for our immune system. Perhaps that is why during the cold season we are especially prone to infections: reducing the light day leads to a lack of vitamin D, which slows down our immune system.
Especially a lot of vitamin D is found in some types of fish: sardines, salmon, and of course, in the good old fish oil. Therefore, those who really want to strengthen their immunity, instead of absorbing lemons, should put the fish on the table, and after the meal go out for a good walk.
Vaccinations? Well, I do not! Each infection strengthens the immune system.
Those who grew up with brothers and sisters, always ready to "reward" you with pathogens, or in a "microbial" training camp "in the village, are subsequently less likely to suffer from allergies than the only children of their parents raised in" sterile "high-rise buildings. In childhood, our immune system especially needs calls to, on the one hand, become stronger and resist the pathogens of the disease, and on the other hand, to be tolerant of harmless "newcomers".
But, nevertheless, you can not completely refuse from vaccinations. Vaccinations were created against diseases that can be transferred, but which are particularly difficult, for example, tetanus, measles or influenza. And the fact that vaccinations cause allergies is just a scientifically unproven assumption.
A protective injection is not always without side effects and complications. But the danger posed by a real infection is much higher in statistics.
Sport strengthens the immune system.
Someone who joggers several times a week, is sick less often and is more likely to suffer illnesses. Because regular motor activity activates killer cells and other helpers of our immune system. Perhaps, for the same reason, cancer patients have fewer relapses if they regularly go in for sports.
Caution! Much does not mean good! Anyone who has been exercising too long or too active is damaging his immune system. If sport becomes stress for our body - especially under the influence of competitive spirit or excessive ambition - we become only more susceptible to infections. Therefore, professional athletes are sick more often than those who play sports from time to time.
And for everyone, the rule is: The one who picked up the infection should take a break in sports until he gets better. Otherwise, a common cold can lead to serious complications, in rare cases even to a life-threatening myocarditis. In any case, sports should benefit health.
I already have strong immunity, I do not need to get vaccinated.
True: Many diseases that develop in most of us do not pose a threat to life. Nevertheless, the flu is not very pleasant, but one with strong immunity, as a rule, tolerates it without any particular consequences. Pertussis and rubella also occur in adults without much harm to health.
But some people are particularly susceptible to certain diseases or their complications. From seasonal influenza, elderly people and people with chronic diseases suffer particularly. Whooping cough can be dangerous for young children who can not yet be vaccinated against whooping cough, and rubella puts in jeopardy not the pregnant women themselves, but their unborn children.
We are not only the target of viruses and other pathogens, but also their vectors. Therefore, it is recommended to vaccinate not only people who are at risk, but also those who live with people at risk or contact them in the course of their professional activities. For example, a baby will be protected from pertussis if his relatives put an inoculation.
The stronger the cold, the weaker the immune system.
So they thought for a long time. And with the real flu, it really is: The less we can resist the virus, the more we get sick, as the influenza viruses destroy the cells of the upper respiratory tract. But cold viruses - mostly so-called rhinoviruses - behave less aggressively in the invasion: They do not bother our cells.
But, nevertheless, our body tries to get rid of viruses - and reacts with an inflammatory process. This counteroffensive takes place that hastily than the immune system is more efficient. For someone who has a particularly strong cough and runny nose, there is simply nothing more to defend.
Such a strong immune system best protects us from the complications that a viral infection can lead to. After all, the cold is really unpleasant because it may be followed by a viral attack that can cause, for example, inflammation of the middle ear or sinusitis.
If the immune system copes with any disease, then it will not get sick anymore.
You can not argue that if we picked up the virus and our immune system coped with the "newcomer", creating a special "weapon" against it, then these so-called antibodies can immediately neutralize the pathogen upon repeated contact - we remain healthy. Most childhood diseases, like measles or mumps, strike us only once, and we get immunity against them for the rest of their lives.
But not always for the disease is responsible for only one virus, and, as in the case of the common cold, a whole arsenal of more than 200 different viruses. And with one of them our immune system is not exactly familiar, so because of it, we have another runny nose. Other viruses, for example, influenza pathogens, mutate so quickly that our immune system no longer recognizes them during the next flu epidemic.
And, in addition, there are viruses - like, for example, the causative agent of herpes - that remain in our body for life. And if our immune system is weakened by stress, irradiation or taking certain medications, this virus is activated - again on the lips there are bothersome vesicles. One day they will pass again, but finally we can not get rid of the herpes virus.
I have strong immunity, because I never have a fever.
When the temperature of our body rises, this is the first measure our immune system takes: it tries to cope with the virus and other pathogens of the disease. The metabolic processes in the body are accelerated, and the production of white blood cells is started.
Therefore, some experts believe that the one whose immune system never fights infection with elevated temperature, the defenses of the body are weakened. It is also proven: the risk of cancer is reduced if we have a temperature increase from time to time.
But everything has its limits: a strong heat weakens our body and can even be life-threatening. If you can not immediately knock down the heat, then you need to be vigilant. High temperature always indicates that we are sick. It is best to support the body with anti-infective protection, first of all, drink plenty of fluids and take care of yourself.
Now you know how to strengthen the immunity of an adult.