"Low" immunity - a topic for debate, and the reason for the alarm. Especially now, when the cold weather, you can hear a lot of advice on how to strengthen the immune system: here and a proper diet, and a cold shower, and vitamins, and special preparations.
At the same time, few people even know what kind of animal is "immunity", where he is, and how it works. Medical version of the site Kolobok.ua I decided to look into the matter.
Where there is immunity? The first immunity - a system. It is made up of organs and cells that are spread throughout the body. The main organs of the immune system - is thymus (thymus) and bone marrow. In the thymus, forms an important immune system cells - T-lymphocytes, the rest of the bone marrow cells that protect us from the attacks of viruses and bacteria (lymphocytes, monocytes, neutrophils, eosinophils, basophils). In addition, the immune system are the spleen, tonsils, adenoids, lymphatic system.
The main task of immunity - be on guard the body, protecting it from invasion by viruses, bacteria, fungi and other aggressors.
How does the immune system? The main task of an alarm immunity when ingested foreign cells and organisms. It can be not only external enemies but also mutated cells of the body. When a child is born in his mother's immunity is available, which was obtained through the placenta. Protection of maternal immunity breaks down to approximately one and a half years kid life. But during this time his own immune system learns to deal with pests yourself.
When the body gets the kid some bacterium or virus, his immunity is a strategy to deal with it and the next time you hit the body of the bacteria are not big trouble. This is called acquired immunity. He is a bit more complicated congenital and is able to develop a strategy to combat only to those micro-organisms, which have already faced.
What factors affect the immune system?Affect the immune system is not so simple. Doctors say: good sleep, good nutrition and moderate exercise - this is what we can really support your immune system.
An adult should sleep 7-8 hours a day, eat diverse, including in your diet enough fruits and vegetables, fish and meat, cereals and dairy products, avoid trans fats and abuse alcohol.
With physical activity, too, everything is simple: the more you move, the better. This can be walking or cycling, swimming, dance, aerobic, and so on. D. In general, look for yourself exercise in taste, most importantly do not sit still. Your immune system will thank you even for 15-20 minute exercise daily.
In addition to the training required and immunity. And for that he needs "sparring" with a variety of microorganisms. If a child coddle the child to protect it from drafts contained in a sterile room and not allow to jump in puddles, his immunity spilled and not even be able to cope with simple diseases. As a result, from any breeze people will get sick.
Therefore, let your child run around barefoot, cold drink and sleep in a well ventilated area. In this case, his vessels are not so sharply narrowed in the cold.
Are there medicines to boost immunity? At the pharmacy, you can see a variety of means to enhance immunity, but their effectiveness is yet not scientifically proven. None of them did not pass a sufficient number of studies, so we can not judge any of their effectiveness or, even worse, security.
Important for immunity are vitamins and minerals. But much more important than to take them for drugs, to get enough in food. Therefore, it is not sad, but the magic pill for immunity does not exist. As already mentioned: nutrition, sleep, exercise and tempering - that's all we can do for your health.
How do you know that your immune system is lowered? An adult may get sick of viral diseases several times a year and it does not mean that he has problems with immunity. Usually the cause of frequent diseases in lifestyle, lack of sleep, physical activity, unhealthy diet, harmful habits. At the same time there are some signs indicating that your immune system actually reduced:
• you have had 8 or more purulent otitis throughout the year;
• you have had 2 or more severe sinusitis during the year;
• you have had 2 or more pneumonia during the year;
• you drink antibiotics over a month, but they will not help;
• you have had complications during the vaccination attenuated vaccine;
• you often have skin and soft tissue abscesses.
That is a cause for concern should be part of a collision with a bacterial diseases, not the virus.
To what doctor to address? Better to start with a general practitioner: a pediatrician, general practitioner or family doctor. Most likely you do not have problems with immunity, but it is necessary to correct lifestyle. For example, if you are a smoker (including passive), it is not surprising that you often suffer from SARS. In that case, if the doctor suspects that immune problems still exist, it will give you directions to the immunologist. Take care of yourself and your loved ones!
