When a patient starts suffering from a an infection, an autoimmune condition, cancer, or allergies, supporting their immune system becomes a top priority.
Fortunately, there are many lifestyle interventions and dietary supplements you can consider to support immune system function and reduce your risk of disease.
The immune system is the body’s primary defense mechanism against potentially harmful invaders, such as pathogens, antigens, and immunogens.
The immune system can get compromised and have an increased susceptibility to disease due to chronic stress, excessive alcohol consumption, lack of sleep, nutrient deficiencies, physical inactivity, and smoking.
Stress management
While short-term stress may stimulate both innate and adaptive immune responses, chronic stress has been shown to suppress immune function. Long-term or chronic stress may decrease immune cell count and increase inflammatory responses. While certain chronic stressors may be unavoidable with our modern lifestyles, you can incorporate ways to manage your stress, such as massage therapy or yoga.
Physical activity
The relationship between exercise and immune health appears to be dose-dependant. Research has shown that lifelong regular physical activity may have immunoprotective effects and may reduce the risk of certain cancers, such as breast cancer.
Sleep
Sleep is essential to many important functions of the body, including healing and repair. Chronic sleep loss has been associated with immunodeficiency, increased inflammatory markers, an impaired response to influenza vaccination, and an increased risk of the common cold.
In order to maintain a healthy immune system, the dietary supplements patients should consider taking are multivitamins and minerals, botanical herbs, medicinal mushrooms, colostrum, and probiotics.
For more information, please check out https://fullscript.com/blog/lifestyle-tips-and-supplements-for-immune-health where they explore more in detail what we should do maintain a healthy immune system!