TEMPO.CO, Jakarta – Ensuring immunity or immunity This is very important during the Covid-19 pandemic. Low immunity will make it easier for any virus, including Covid-19, to attack, especially with the emergence of the highly contagious Omicron subvariant and driving a spike in cases worldwide.
You may not realize whether immune is good or not. However, according to CNBC, there are signs when immunity is down. At least, there are four main warning signs that can indicate whether the immune system is weak and should go the extra mile to boost it. Signs of a weak immune system are:
Often sick and takes longer than usual to recover
Don’t worry if you sneeze and runny nose because of a cold 2-3 times a year. Most people recover in about a week. However, if you have persistent colds with symptoms that last for weeks or even frequent food poisoning, it may be due to a sluggish response of the innate immune system. Immune system become a fortress that prevents harmful substances from entering the body. Think of it as the first line of defense against all invaders and injuries. Its components include the following three things:
Cough reflex, which helps us expel things that can irritate or infect.
– Production of mucus, which traps bacteria and small particles and helps expel them from the body.
– Stomach acid, which helps kill microbes that enter through food and drink.
Prolonged stress
Certain types of stress can benefit your immune system and overall health. For example, short-term acute stressors such as traffic jams are designed to help the body instantly increase its protective mechanisms. Therefore, acute stress actually helps boost the immune system in the short term.
But, chronic stress can be bad news, causing dysregulation and immune suppression, leading to increased infections and poor recovery from illness. Studies also show that stress often worsens autoimmune diseases, such as rheumatoid arthritis and ulcerative colitis and can cause allergic reactions such as eczema and asthma.
Frequent thrush or herpes zoster at a young age
The virus that causes cold sores and shingles is in the herpes virus family. After contracting, the virus enters an inactive state into the body. However, when under stress or weakened immune cells, the virus can replicate and reactivate. Seeing frequent reactivation can be a sign the immune system needs to be boosted.
Taking medications that weaken the immune response
Unfortunately, many of the important drugs used in cancer chemotherapy to prevent organ transplant rejection and to treat autoimmune diseases can be immunosuppressive. Corticosteroids, a class of drugs commonly used for allergies, asthma, and other inflammatory diseases, can also be immunosuppressive. In fact, a history of frequent use of antibiotics has been shown to impair the diversity of the gut microbiome, which can directly impair immune responses.
Also read: 4 Facts about the Body’s Immunity that Protects Humans from Disease
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