Your immune system is like a bodyguard that you can’t afford to fire from your service. It has a vital role in fighting bacteria, parasites, viruses, and more. During the surge of COVID-19, the statement “keep your immunity high at all times” was at its peak as it was the most you could do to dodge yourself from contracting the virus. Signs of a strong immune system include patients eating right, maintaining a healthy lifestyle, and getting enough sleep.
However, there are some factors that may hamper your overall immune health.
Some of those include :
– Chronic Stress
Long-term, chronic stress has been shown to suppress immune function. As the central function of the immune system is to fight off the bad guys and keep you in a safe space, stress is something that can come in the way of the immune system’s ability to do its job.
“Stress and anxiety have a tremendous impact on our immune system. We know excess levels of stress produce hormonal changes that lower the body’s resistance to colds and other infections” ” said David Tolin, PhD, Director of the Anxiety Disorders Center at Hartford Hospital’s Institute of Living.
The stress hormone, Cortisol is released during stress episodes which can weaken your immune system if it stays high for too long and also inhibit your fight or flight responses.
– Physical Inactivity Or Excessive Exercise
Being lazy has no known benefits to mankind. Exercising is something which is recommended as/or is the culprit of more or less every basic health problem. If you exercise, your heart rate goes up and you flush out bacteria through your lungs and airways. However, if you exercise too much then it can have the reverse effect.
Recent research suggests that repeated episodes of brutal & strenuous workouts have been associated with suppressed immune function. Therefore moderation is key when it comes to benefitting from the immunoprotective effects of exercise.
– Poor Diet & Nutritional Deficiencies
There are studies that show that eating nutrient-dense foods, fruits, and vegetables (Vitamin C, Vitamin E, etc) can help in boosting the immune system.
Diets high in processed foods, saturated fats, sugar, and excess sodium are linked to compromised immunity. Not getting the full benefits of the vitamins from the right foods is also directly related to dysregulated immune function.
– Substance Use
Excessive alcohol intake can reduce immune function and increase the risk of certain infections. Millions of people are affected by drug abuse across the globe.
Consistent drinking or drugs will disable and weaken the immune system from fighting off infections. Smoking irritates your lungs. In such cases, the probability of developing serious lung conditions like pneumonia increases by a hefty amount.
These were 4 out of the many factors that affect your immune health. Your immune system is a natural safeguard assigned to you whose only duty is to look out for you. Doing things that might derail it from protecting you will only bring you into situations no one wants to be in. Therefore, keep your mind healthy and be mindful of what you’re putting in your body which will, in turn, keep your immune system in check.
