- Overuse of antibiotics reduces the body's resistance
- Bad eating habits negatively affect our immunity
- Stress is a common cause of lowered immunity
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More and more people suffer from recurring infections of the upper respiratory tract. The number of patients with rubella, whooping cough and chickenpox is increasing. Tuberculosis is attacking us again. If we do not take care of immunity, the situation will worsen. For the sake of our own he alth, let's take care of our diet and a hygienic lifestyle.
The susceptibility to infections is caused byimmune system( immune system ). When it is too weak, it cannot fight off microbes. Thousands of immune cells (leukocytes, or white blood cells) circulate in the body. They are to prevent the penetration of germs ( non-specific immunity ), and if it fails, deal with them quickly before they wreak havoc on the body ( specific immunity ). The most important non-specific barrier is the skin and mucosa that line the various systems. Non-specific immunity is given to us from birth, we acquire specific immunity only after contact with a given microorganism. Leukocytes only live for a few days, so the body must replace them with new ones on a regular basis. But there must be conditions for that. If we do not create them, the body will not produce enough white blood cells and we will get sick.
Overuse of antibiotics reduces the body's resistance
Scientists point out that not only viruses and bacteria are the cause of the disease. An efficient immune system can fight off infections. Unfortunately, this system is failing more and more often, and the fight against germs becomes more difficult, often ineffective. Much depends on ourselves. The greatest sin is the overuse of antibiotics. According to statistics, every sixth Pole uses an antibiotic on his own at least once a year. You have to realize that antibiotics were invented to treat specific diseases. Therefore, only take them when you really need them. Badly chosen or taken just in case, instead of healing, they harm. Antibiotics for viruses do not work, so even a high fever with a viral infection is not a justification for reaching for such a drug. In any case, an antibiotic treatment disrupts the natural flora of the digestive tract, which supports the immune system, protecting us against diseases. After being treated with an antibiotic, we easily catch another infection, take the antibiotic again, so there is a vicious circle. Scientists emphasize that the more antibiotics we take,the weaker our immunity and the greater the chance that we will become resistant to the drug. Not only is the widespread use of bactericidal preparations in human treatment to blame, but also their inappropriate use in veterinary medicine, breeding and agriculture. Today, when there are plenty of antibiotics on the market, you have to use them wisely. According to WHO guidelines, government programs are being created around the world to facilitate this (it is about developing a system for the controlled use of these drugs). The National Antibiotic Protection Program has been operating in Poland since 2004.
Bad eating habits negatively affect our immunity
We eat irregularly and busy, and the highly processed food that ends up on our plate is devoid of many valuable nutrients. On the other hand, it does not lack dyes, emulsifiers, improvers and various preservatives. There are too many animal fats and simple carbohydrates (sugar and white flour products) in our diet, not enough vegetables and fruits. Effect? We do not provide the body with the necessary nutrients, including important antioxidants that support the immune system. We shape bad eating habits in our children. It should be remembered that the immune system of a small child gradually matures and at the age of 3-4 years it reaches its proper efficiency (it reaches full maturity when we are 18-20 years old), therefore children are the most susceptible to diseases. We use stimulants too often. Alcohol, coffee, and cigarettes destroy vitamins and trace elements 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, free radicals are formed in the body that weaken the immune system. In addition, nicotine smoke irritates the mucous membranes of the respiratory system, making it easier for germs to penetrate the body.
Stress is a common cause of lowered immunity
We live in stress, we involve our children in the rat race, while the immune system is connected to the nervous system and prolonged tension reduces the efficiency of defense forces. Under the influence of cortisol, which is produced almost continuously in chronic stress, the number of white blood cells and the body's ability to produce antibodies decrease. Reducing the body's resistance 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 are under stress are more likely to develop infections and respond less to vaccines. We lead a sedentary lifestyle, we raise children in greenhouse conditions, so they do not train their immunity. We use detergents and agentsantiseptic, we inhale exhaust fumes, poisonous substances released from adhesives, paints, carpets, furniture, we breathe air dried by radiators and air conditioning, irritating the epidermis and mucous membranes and destroying the natural flora.
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