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How do you know that your immunity is declining? The first sign of a weakened immune system is susceptibility to infections. So if you have a frequent cold, have sore throats, or have recurrent cold sores, it's a sign that your security system is failing. Although we inherit immunity from our ancestors, much depends on us. Because we - sometimes unconsciously - weaken our defensive army … What mistakes do we most often make?

Everyone talks about how important it is to strengthen immunity, and hardly anyone asks why our immunity is falling? Most often, we ourselves are responsible for the decline in immunity and the weakening of the immune system. What are the most common sins?

Blighted nights reduce immunity

Permanent sleep deprivation disrupts the functioning of the immune system, lowers the production of lymphocytes and their ability to destroy microbes. Therefore, people who don't get enough sleep are more prone to infections. Restful sleep (7-8 hours) ensures efficient renewal of immune cells.

Immunity drops by stimulants

Alcohol, coffee, and cigarettes destroy vitamins A, C, E, B and microelements that help fight free radicals that are harmful to the immune system. High-percentage alcoholic drinks kill the immune cells circulating in the blood and lymph. When smoking cigarettes, free radicals are formed in the body that weaken the immune system. Nicotine smoke irritates the mucous membranes, making it easier for germs to penetrate the body. Do not smoke and avoid smoky rooms, replace strong coffee and tea with fruit teas.

Excess antibiotics have a negative effect on immunity

Let's not forget that antibiotics only treat certain diseases and should only be taken when they are really needed. They do not work on viruses, so even a high fever with a viral infection is not a justification for reaching for such a drug.

Antibiotic treatment in any case disrupts the natural flora of the digestive tract, which supports the immune system, protecting against diseases. Therefore, after antibiotic treatment, we easily catch another infection, take the antibiotic again, and this is a vicious circle.

Specialists warn: the more we use antibiotics, the weaker our immunity and the greater the chance that we will become resistant to the drug. And it's not hereonly about the abuse of antibiotics in human treatment, but also their inappropriate use in veterinary medicine, breeding and agriculture. Antibiotics help to overcome many diseases and often save lives, but they must be used wisely. You must not take them on your own, and when prescribed by a doctor, you should take them strictly according to his recommendations.

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Living in chronic stress destroys immunity

The immune system is connected to the nervous system, so depression, anxiety, pressure, and inability to express feelings or build relationships reduce the efficiency of defense forces. Under the influence of cortisol, which is produced almost continuously in chronic stress, the number of white blood cells decreases and the body's ability to produce antibodies decreases.

Reducing the body's immunity and, at the same time, an excess of androgenic hormones lead to the disturbance of the natural bacterial flora of the mucous membranes and the multiplication of germs. Therefore, people who have problems at work, at home or with themselves are more likely to develop infections and respond less to vaccines. You have to make sure that positive emotions take precedence over negative ones.

Living motionless lowers immunity

Physical activity, especially outdoors, stimulates the production of white blood cells and increases the activity of lymphocytes. It also supports the thermoregulation process, which is the basis for hardening - the body learns to react quickly, e.g. to temperature changes and the presence of microbes. At the same time, it helps fight stress - the enemy of immunity, but you have to remember that too intensive training increases the release of stress hormones, lowering immunity. The simplest form of activity is walking or jogging, regardless of the weather.

Poor nutrition makes us sick

We eat irregularly, reach for highly processed food, devoid of valuable nutrients, but containing dyes, emulsifiers, improvers and preservatives. We eat too much fat, sugar and white flour and too little vegetables and fruit. Meanwhile, excess fats, especially animal fats, reduce the activity of immune cells, making us vulnerable to disease. In turn, vegetables and vitamins are a treasury of vitamins and minerals that stimulate the immune system.

  • Vitamin Amaintains the mucosa of the respiratory tract in good condition, protects against the penetration of germs, increases the number of immune cells and activates them to fight viruses (dairy products, eggs, carrots, peppers , pumpkin, mango, spinach, sorrel, chives).
  • Vitamin Cstimulates the production of interferon (a protein thathelps to deal with germs), neutralizes free radicals, activates white blood cells and chemical messengers that fight disease (citrus, rosehip, black currant, cranberry, broccoli, parsley, turnip).
  • Vitamin Edestroys free radicals, has anti-inflammatory properties, is involved in the production of red blood cells (sunflower seeds, almonds, nuts, oils, fish, whole grain products).
  • B vitaminsparticipate in the formation of proteins, hormones and enzymes needed to strengthen the defense lines (bananas, avocados, meat, fish, dairy products, whole grains, groats). For the immune system to work at full capacity, it needs a regular supply of fuel: five small meals a day, in the morning - be sure to have breakfast (protects against colds).

It is a mistake to opt out of immunization

Many people do not vaccinate themselves or their children because they fear the complications and believe absolutely false information about the link between measles, mumps, and rubella vaccination and autism. However, most doctors support the use of mandatory and recommended vaccinations, because it is the best method of protection against infections and serious complications.

Some childhood vaccinations no longer work, so they must be repeated in adulthood. Flu vaccination must not be taken lightly. People who, despite vaccination, contract the infection more gently and without complications. Lack of immunization against a given disease is not synonymous with getting sick. Whether you get sick or not depends on your individual immunity. However, if more than 80-90% of the population is vaccinated in a given area, then the so-called herd immunity, meaning the disease stops spreading.

Hiding children under a shade deprives them of their immunity

Some parents believe that a small child should not come into contact with the smallest contaminants, so they raise them in sterile conditions. This is a mistake! Every child gets antibodies from their mother, which protect them against diseases for the first 6 months. If she is breastfed, this immunity lasts longer. After the first year of life, self-immunity begins to develop. A child brought up in a sterile environment has nothing to train his immunity on. For this reason, it is not worth to go overboard and disinfect the apartment every day, because excess hygiene can be harmful.

Excess "chemistry" disrupts the immune system

Commonly used cleaning agents and antiseptics irritate the epidermis and mucous membranes as wellthey destroy the natural bacterial flora, which stimulates the immune system and prevents the development of dangerous germs. Exhaust fumes, poisonous substances emitted from asph alt, adhesives, paints, carpets, furniture, as well as air dried by radiators or air-conditioning add up. All this makes it easier for germs to enter the body.

"Zdrowie" monthly

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Immune system