WAKE UP - YOUR IMMUNITY IS CALLING YOU!
Why is the immune system important?
The immune system of our body or as we should say ‘the defense mechanism’ of our body constantly fights against pathogenic microbes and harmful bacterias that penetrate
our body in numerous ways. It has cells that are specialized to kill infecting microbes while keeping our body healthy. In simple words, If you didn't have a functioning immune system, simply brushing your teeth would introduce enough harmful bacteria into your bloodstream to kill you. Luckily, your immune system protects you from these very common, everyday bacteria. For example, HIV is a disease that destroys the immune system of the host due to which the body of the host is extremely vulnerable to diseases. The body loses its potential to fight against those viruses and bacterias which ultimately results in death.
our body in numerous ways. It has cells that are specialized to kill infecting microbes while keeping our body healthy. In simple words, If you didn't have a functioning immune system, simply brushing your teeth would introduce enough harmful bacteria into your bloodstream to kill you. Luckily, your immune system protects you from these very common, everyday bacteria. For example, HIV is a disease that destroys the immune system of the host due to which the body of the host is extremely vulnerable to diseases. The body loses its potential to fight against those viruses and bacterias which ultimately results in death.So we can simply say that it is our immune system that keeps us healthy as we drift through a sea of pathogens. This vast network of cells and tissues is constantly on the lookout for invaders, and once an enemy is spotted, a complex attack is mounted.
The immune system is spread throughout the body and involves many types of cells, organs, proteins, and tissues. Crucially, it can distinguish our tissues from foreign tissues i.e. self-tissues from non-self tissues. Dead and faulty cells are also recognized and cleared away by the immune system.
If the immune system encounters a pathogen, for instance, a bacterium, virus, or parasite, it mounts a so-called immune response, thereby attacking the pathogen and protecting your body from various diseases.
Weak immune system VS being sick
And while having a healthy immune system is vital for healthy living, having a weak immune system doesn't necessarily mean that you are sick at the present moment. Weak immune system simply means that the potential of our body to fight against pathogenic microbes and viruses is less as compared to a normal person. Whereas sickness is a state of being ill due to the penetration of infectious viruses and pathogens.
Here are some major signs and symptoms that tell us that your immune system needs attention :
1. Your Stress Level is Sky-High:
It’s not a coincidence that you tend to get sick after a big project at work or following an emotional situation at home. According to a report by the American Psychological Association, long-term stress weakens the responses of your immune system. “That’s because stress decreases the body’s lymphocytes, the white blood cells that help fight off infection. The lower your lymphocyte levels, the more you’re at risk for viruses like the common cold,” explains Nadia Hasan, DO, a physician at Delancey Internal Medicine.
2. You Always Have a Cold
It’s perfectly normal for adults to sneeze and sniffle through two or three colds each year. Most people bounce back in seven to 10 days. “During that time, it takes the immune system three to four days to develop antibodies and fight off pesky germs,” says Dr. Hasan. But you might want to get your immune system checked if a cold refuses to leave you or makes a return too often. That’s honestly a clear sign that your immune system is struggling to keep up.
3. You Have Lots of Tummy Troubles
Your tummy can tell you a lot about your immune system. If you suffer frequently from diarrhea, gas or constipation, it could be a sign that your immune system is compromised.
Research shows that nearly 70 percent of your immune system is located in your digestive tract. The beneficial bacteria and microorganisms that live there defend your gut from infection and support your immune system. Low amounts of these helpful gut bacteria can leave you at risk of viruses, chronic inflammation and even major auto-immune disorders.
4. Your Wounds Are Slow to Heal
Your skin goes into damage control mode after you get a burn, cut or scrape. Your body works to protect the wound by sending nutrient-rich blood to the injury to help regenerate new skin. This is the basic healing process run by healthy immune cells. But if your immune system is sluggish, your skin can’t regenerate and as a result, wounds will linger longer and have a hard time healing.
5. You Have Frequent Infections
If you seem to battle frequent infections, your immune system might be sending you red flags. It’s impossible to not come in contact with infectious viruses, they’re present in the food, water, and even the air that we must consume to sustain. So the only way to avoid these infections is to have a healthy immune system that can fight the viruses.
While it is pivotal to eat a healthy and balanced diet in order to maintain a healthy immune system, there are many major factors that contribute to a weak immune system. And seasonal variations are on top of all the other factors.
Seasonal variations can directly affect our immune system. According to a study published in the journal ‘Nature Communications, the activity of almost a quarter of our genes (5,136 out of 22,822 genes tested) differs according to the time of year, with some more active in winter and others more active in summer. This seasonality also affects our immune cells and the composition of our blood and adipose tissue commonly known as fat.
Scientists have, time and again, proved that various diseases, including various cardiovascular and autoimmune diseases display seasonal variation, as does vitamin D metabolism. However, this is the first time that researchers have shown that this may be down to seasonal changes in how our immune system functions.
Thus, we can say that our immunity fluctuates depending upon the environmental assaults around us. And while that is true, it is also a prerequisite to maintaining a healthy lifestyle in order to lead a healthy immune system.
Here are a few tips that can boost your immunity:
Keep up with your recommended vaccines:
Vaccines help your immune system to recognize and fight illness-causing bacterias and viruses. And while our immune system is capable of doing this on its own, vaccines are a little extra help to increase our immunity and keep us far away from diseases.
Adopt fruits and vegetables-rich diet:
It’s important to recognize the immunity-boosting foods and adopt them in our daily diet. Make sure you eat plenty of legumes, fruits, vegetables, whole grains, healthy fats and lean protein. Vitamin B6, vitamin C and vitamin E are important micronutrients that boost immunity.
Exercise regularly:
Regular exercise boosts your overall circulation making your immune cells along with other infection-fighting molecules to effectively travel in your body. Many studies also suggest that an exercise routine of at least 30 minutes every day stimulates your immune system.
References :
https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/320101#immune-system-disorders
https://www.cell.com/trends/immunology/comments/S1471-4906(04)00051-1#back-BIB1
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2015/05/150512112356.htm
https://www.pennmedicine.org/updates/blogs/health-and-wellness/2020/march/weakened-immune-system
https://www.health.harvard.edu/staying-healthy/how-to-boost-your-immune-system
https://www.houstonmethodist.org/blog/articles/2020/mar/5-ways-to-boost-your-immune-system/
Disclaimer :
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Content Credit: Aayush Kundnani
