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How To Boost The Immune System?

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Posted on Thu, 8 Oct 2015
Question: even if we are having a very balanced life like playing sports eating good food having fruits and juices and nuts (almonds, peanuts etc.), doing yoga and not having any alcoholic and smoking habits how our immune system gets affected and we get viral fever as season changes. do we need to take care more precautions or is it not possible to improve our immune power
doctor
Answered by Dr. Prasanna Heijebu (1 hour later)
Brief Answer:
Immune system boosting ways suggested.

Detailed Answer:
Hello, Sir.

I understand your concern.

It is not always because of reduced immunity seasonal viral illness affect our body.

Sometimes the viruses causing diseases develop new proteins which our immune system is unaware of. This does not reflect a defective immune system.

Yes, there are certain natural ways which can boost your immunity.They are as follows.

1.Get enough sleep and manage stress. Sleep deprivation and stress overload increase the hormone cortisol, prolonged elevation of which suppresses immune function.

2.Avoid exposure to tobacco smoke-Passive smoking. It undermines basic immune defenses and raises the risk of bronchitis and pneumonia in everyone, and middle ear infections in kids.

3.Drink less alcohol. Excessive consumption impairs the immune system.

4.Eat plenty of vegetables, fruits, nuts, and seeds, which will provide your body with the nutrients your immune system needs. A study in older adults showed that boosting fruit and vegetable intake improved antibody response to the Pneumovax vaccine, which protects against Streptococcus pneumonia.

5.Consider probiotics. Studies indicate supplements reduce the incidence of respiratory and gastrointestinal infections. Fermented milk products have also been shown to reduce respiratory infections in adults and kids.

6.Catch some rays. Sunlight triggers the skin’s production of vitamin D. In the summer, a 10-15 minute exposure (minus sunscreen) is enough.Low vitamin D levels correlate with a greater risk of respiratory infection.

7.Go for the garlic. Garlic is a broad-spectrum antimicrobial agent and immune booster. Because heat deactivates a key active ingredient, add it to foods just before serving.

8.Eat medicinal mushrooms, such as shiitake and maitake. A recent study showed that a concentrated extract of shiitake enhanced immune function even in women with breast cancer.

9.Try immune-supportive herbs. If you get recurrent infections, consider taking immune-supportive herbs such as eleuthero (Eleutherococcus senti coccus), Asian ginseng (Panax ginseng), XXXXXXX ginseng (Panax quinquefolius), or astragalus (A. membranaceous).

10.Make an echinacea tincture. This is good to have on hand when respiratory viruses overwhelm your defenses.

Post your further queries if any.
Thank you.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Vinay Bhardwaj
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. Prasanna Heijebu (21 minutes later)
one more thing i forgot to mention that i am also having blood in my excrement from past three days but not having any pain in abdomen, is it an infection or just a wound in anus.
doctor
Answered by Dr. Prasanna Heijebu (6 hours later)
Brief Answer:
Complete stool examination is needed.

Detailed Answer:
Hello, Sir.

The possibility of infection as well anal fissures is high.

This needs further evaluation.

For differentiation I advise you get a complete stool analysis.

Anal fissures are a high possibility if there is an associated constipation and straining at stools.

Post your further queries if any.
Thank you.

Note: For more detailed guidance, please consult an Internal Medicine Specialist, with your latest reports. Click here..

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Raju A.T
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Answered by
Dr.
Dr. Prasanna Heijebu

General & Family Physician

Practicing since :2010

Answered : 1422 Questions

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How To Boost The Immune System?

Brief Answer: Immune system boosting ways suggested. Detailed Answer: Hello, Sir. I understand your concern. It is not always because of reduced immunity seasonal viral illness affect our body. Sometimes the viruses causing diseases develop new proteins which our immune system is unaware of. This does not reflect a defective immune system. Yes, there are certain natural ways which can boost your immunity.They are as follows. 1.Get enough sleep and manage stress. Sleep deprivation and stress overload increase the hormone cortisol, prolonged elevation of which suppresses immune function. 2.Avoid exposure to tobacco smoke-Passive smoking. It undermines basic immune defenses and raises the risk of bronchitis and pneumonia in everyone, and middle ear infections in kids. 3.Drink less alcohol. Excessive consumption impairs the immune system. 4.Eat plenty of vegetables, fruits, nuts, and seeds, which will provide your body with the nutrients your immune system needs. A study in older adults showed that boosting fruit and vegetable intake improved antibody response to the Pneumovax vaccine, which protects against Streptococcus pneumonia. 5.Consider probiotics. Studies indicate supplements reduce the incidence of respiratory and gastrointestinal infections. Fermented milk products have also been shown to reduce respiratory infections in adults and kids. 6.Catch some rays. Sunlight triggers the skin’s production of vitamin D. In the summer, a 10-15 minute exposure (minus sunscreen) is enough.Low vitamin D levels correlate with a greater risk of respiratory infection. 7.Go for the garlic. Garlic is a broad-spectrum antimicrobial agent and immune booster. Because heat deactivates a key active ingredient, add it to foods just before serving. 8.Eat medicinal mushrooms, such as shiitake and maitake. A recent study showed that a concentrated extract of shiitake enhanced immune function even in women with breast cancer. 9.Try immune-supportive herbs. If you get recurrent infections, consider taking immune-supportive herbs such as eleuthero (Eleutherococcus senti coccus), Asian ginseng (Panax ginseng), XXXXXXX ginseng (Panax quinquefolius), or astragalus (A. membranaceous). 10.Make an echinacea tincture. This is good to have on hand when respiratory viruses overwhelm your defenses. Post your further queries if any. Thank you.