Covid-19: The Immune System Can Fight Back

1. Covid-19: The Immune System Can Fight Back The novel coronavirus has infected more than 4 million people worldwide and killed 3 lakh people. Scientists all over the world are doing their best to find at least medications if not a vaccine for this infection. However, there is no cure in sight, so until then, the fight against this virus has to be done by the body’s immune system. How well the body’s immunity works determines the recovery and death rates. How does the Immune System fight against Coronavirus? The immune system in the body can be considered as your personal army at work. It works from the most basic cellular level to macro levels. The pathogens have to face every cell, tissue, and organs before it is successful in its attack. The coronavirus which is currently spreading infections in people is like any other virus that causes common cold/influenza. Like other pathogens, it needs a host and that is nothing but the living cell inside the body. Once the cell gets infected, the virus takes over and starts to command the cells to copy information and release it to other cells in the body. The body’s immune system starts to respond to this threat in two ways: Innate response: There are natural barriers of the body like the hair or mucous in the nose, the skin, acid in the stomach, scavenger cells, etc. These and much more form the innate immune systems. The plasma proteins support these systems and help to kill the virus. Once the cells get attacked, the innate systems start to respond and send killer cells. For most pathogens, that is enough to fight off the infections. The cold or fever that you get occasionally is the sign that the immune system has warded off an intruder.

2. Adaptive response: This develops over a period of time as the body comes in contact with the pathogens. Also, the various vaccines that you take help in distinguishing the known good and bad. In the body’s fight against the virus, the immune system can only respond with its innate response. After a point, the host (coronavirus here) becomes so strong that the interferons which are signaling proteins become suppressed. That results in a delay in the production of immune cells. This delay results in overproduction and the immune cells may enter the lungs and thickens the membrane which results in breathing problems. There are certain cases where the immune cells overreact and start to attack the healthy cells. Researchers are working on drugs to suppress this immune reaction. Can People with Better Immunity Fight this Virus Better? The immune system is different for every person, some have a better one than others. Some people Boost immunity system by following a healthy lifestyle and are better equipped to fight such infections. A robust immune system means that you have milder symptoms and faster recovery. But generally speaking, there are many cells that get produced like the T- cells to kill the infected cells and the B-cells produce antibodies to prevent the virus from spreading. These neutralizing antibodies attach to the COVID 19s spike protein and make it incapable of spreading infections. How to Boost the Immune System?

3. The general consensus among experts is that it is important to have a healthy immune system in order to recover quickly from the coronavirus infection. Some of the ways to boost immunity are: Follow a healthy diet: What you consume plays an important part in maintaining physical health as well as immunity. Consume food that is low on carbs and sugar but high in fiber and protein. Foods like spinach, mushrooms, bell pepper, broccoli are known for their immunity building ability. Probiotics like yogurt help to produce more good bacteria in the gut which results in better absorption of nutrients and a healthier body. Quality Sleep: People with sleep disorders like sleep apnea are likely to have reduced immunity to diseases as sleep plays an important role in building immunity. Get 7 to 8 hours of sleep on a comfortable mattress so that the body is rested and boosts the internal functions. Experts from Wakefit explain that lack of sleep affects immunity. Exercise: A healthy diet and regular exercise improves metabolism and also boosts immunity. Even light exercise for about 30 to 45 minutes builds stamina and aids comfort sleep. Drink plenty of fluids: Consume 6 to 8 glasses of water every day to keep the body hydrated. It also helps to flush the toxins in the body and reduce the chances of flu. You can also include coconut water or fruit juices to increase fluid intake.

4. The body’s immune system may be the first line of defence but in the case of coronavirus, prevention from entering the body is the best defence as well as offense. So apart from following the tips to boost the immune system, follow the WHO recommended measures like washing hands with soap and water frequently, social distancing, and covering nose and mouth. These simple steps will slow down the spread of this disease.