The natural barrier: what is immunity and should it be strengthened?

Most people are aware of the existence and importance of immunity. However, few people understand what it is and how it works. But the state of health largely depends on the immune system. It is especially important to remember this in the cold season, when the risk of catching a cold increases many times over. Mikhail Lebedev, leading expert of the Molecular Diagnostics Center of the Central Research Institute of Epidemiology of Rospotrebnadzor, partner of the International Festival of Health and Sports SN PRO EXPO FORUM, tells about what immunity is, how to improve it and when it is worth doing it.

What is immunity?

Immunity is the body’s immunity to various external influences, including infectious diseases. Its main function is to supervise the internal constancy of all the structures of the body. That is, immunity protects a person from microbes and other foreign cells (parasites, foreign tissues, etc.). The entire immune system is very complex, self-regulating and is considered one of the most complex systems in the body. However, to say that all diseases arise precisely because of reduced immunity is incorrect.

The immune system is divided into:

• general immunity – this is primarily blood, lymph;
• local immunity (tissue immunity), which is present in all organs;
• cellular immunity – different types of lymphocytes;
• humoral immunity – immunoglobulins (antibodies), which provide an immune response in case of disease, and for each microorganism (virus, bacteria or other antigen) unique antibodies are produced.

Can immunity be increased or decreased?

Immunity can be at a fairly high level in all situations and not change over time. However, it is known that susceptibility to infectious diseases increases, for example, with hypothermia. Immunity is not significantly affected, but the defense is slightly weakened.

To increase immunity there is a certain class of drugs, which are so called – immunostimulants. They are prescribed exclusively by a doctor in certain clinical situations. For widespread use, they can not be used, as these are serious drugs with a lot of side effects.

As for proper nutrition and the use of vitamins, such methods to raise the level of immunity is impossible. Since the immune system is a self-regulating structure, which in a healthy person is characterized by great constancy.

Vitamins, various supplements, hardening and strengthening physical exercises will help to improve only the general state of health. All of these are indeed useful, but have little or nothing to do with strengthening or boosting immunity.

Do vitamins help boost immunity?

Even the state of avitaminosis (which is already a disease) is quite rare in people who eat a full diet. For preventive purposes, vitamins should be taken only after consultation with a specialist. Believe me, you can harm yourself even, at first glance, useful things!

However, there is an exception vitamin, which in preventive doses can take almost everyone living in our latitudes – it is vitamin D. It is also called the “sunshine vitamin”, and the sun pleases us with its appearance from fall to spring is not so often, so vitamin D deficiency is found in many people.

Before using potent vitamin complexes, it is necessary to consult a doctor.

When is it worthwhile to check the state of immunity?

It is possible to do one big detailed study on the immune status, which can tell a lot about the body. But a healthy person who does not have any complaints, it is not necessary to conduct it.

What tests can and should be taken regularly? The answer depends on age and gender. If a person of older age, it is necessary to check the level of total cholesterol, blood sugar, and also take into account heredity. Young people, on the other hand, need to take tests only if they have complaints.