The state of human immunity varies depending on age.
Until six months from birth, children are protected by immunoglobulins that have penetrated from maternal blood during prenatal development, and up to a year they are delivered with mother's milk during breastfeeding.
It is in one-year-old children that the phase of frequent acute respiratory viral infections and similar illnesses usually begins, with the child's first bacteria with the bacteria or viruses. The children's body begins to fully develop its own immunoglobulins no earlier than six years of age, and immune cells form until puberty is reached.
Specific immunity, or why vaccination is needed
But there are known, deadly diseases with which the body can’t cope completely, or the immune cells do not have time to develop, and the disease will already cause irreversible consequences. Such infections spread at a catastrophic rate, causing massive outbreaks of the disease. In order to prevent them, doctors offer to develop specific immunity in children artificially, with the help of vaccinations.
Timely vaccinations often protect children from death. Parents who decide not to vaccinate a child (which is now fashionable) risk their life. A striking example is polio. In 2015, the vaccine was not delivered on time to Ukraine, and the outbreak of poliomyelitis was not long in coming.
Nonspecific immunity, what is important to know
Unfortunately, a person cannot be vaccinated against all possible diseases. To combat them, the body produces the appropriate antibodies, and a healthy child usually does not have problems with frequent diseases of the ENT organs and other body systems. Otherwise, with rapid fatigue, irritability, frequent colds and exacerbations of chronic diseases, you need to focus on increasing immunity. For this, there are both drugs and techniques, as well as alternative medicine and folk remedies.
Why is a child's immunity reduced
Undoubtedly, the child’s immune system is different from that of adults. Children get sick more often, this is a fact. The fact is that as a child grows up, specific immunity is developed - the organism is "armed" with various weapons to each virus or bacteria. To know how to hit the enemy, the child’s body has to meet him face to face. A child with a properly functioning immune system is able to quickly develop antibodies. In this case, the children suffer the disease in an acute and rapid form, with a sharp increase in fever and an equally sharp recovery.
After the acute phase of the disease with a sufficient level of immunity, the child does not experience complications, otherwise the inflammatory processes become chronic, a runny nose, cough, or other symptoms do not completely disappear, and only are accompanied by severe exacerbations. This is the case when mom needs to think about what she is doing wrong.
What affects the state of the child’s immune system
1. Breastfeeding. Scientists have proved that the longer the baby is breastfed, the longer the immunoglobulins will come into his body with his mother’s milk, without which the baby begins to get sick. Therefore, doctors around the world insistently recommend not to stop breastfeeding for at least eight months (this is the most dangerous period), optimally - up to a year.
2. The condition of the internal organs. A short-term malfunction in at least one of the baby's organs has a strong negative effect on the state of the immune system, and if the pathological condition, for example, of the kidneys, lasts for a month, then you can forget about strong immunity. And quite a long time.
3. The quality and quantity of food received daily. A child who eats fully, having in his diet a proportional ratio of proteins, fats and carbohydrates, as well as natural vitamins and minerals, is much less likely to be affected by various infectious diseases. Even simple cuts heal in such a child faster.
4. Living conditions. In addition to cleanliness in the children's room, it is very important to observe the temperature regime and regular ventilation. The constant sterilization of all household items also has a detrimental effect on the child’s body, because the child must learn to deal with microorganisms in small doses, so that when a real threat arises, show a decent immune response.
5. Psychoemotional state and nervous system. Adverse psychological conditions, frequent conflicts in the family lead to a sharp and steady decline in immunity. Children with neurosis suffer from chronic diseases much more often than peers with a healthy nervous system.
Why immunity in adults is weakening:
1. Lack of rest. With excessive prolonged physical and psycho-emotional stress, people need a good rest. If the break in energy does not allow them to be compensated, the body spends a precious resource, including the immune system. Rest is necessary not only to the muscles, but also to the brain, nervous system. It often happens that, having quit nervous or hard physical work, a person feels the normal functioning of all his organs and systems resumes, even chronic diseases go away.
2. Long-term stress. Stress depresses the cells of the immune system, but in single cases of stress, its hormones (cortisone, adrenaline, etc.) quickly return to normal. When stress is long, hormones suppress the immune system and greatly reduce the body's defenses.
3. Malnutrition. Yes, regular hunger, or malnutrition leads to a lack of vital vitamins, minerals and proteins. It is protein that forms the basis of the immune system, so its lack leads to a malfunction of the immune organs. This problem is common among vegetarians.
4. Obesity. An excess of carbohydrates (usually leading to obesity), sweet and flour foods, leads to a favorable breeding environment for pathogenic microorganisms (for example, fungi). The second "complication" of obesity is depression, because almost all fat people unjustifiably consider themselves flawed, depression and a constant depressive state arise. Depression, like stress, leads to the production of hormones that inhibit the creation of immune cells. And, probably, the most important thing in obesity is inactivity. Without movement, oxygen saturation, there is no stimulation of the work of internal organs. Stagnation occurs, digestion is disturbed, chronic diseases occur.
5. An unhealthy lifestyle. Smoking, alcohol abuse, unhealthy, fatty, sugary and monotonous foods, uncontrolled medication (especially antibacterial drugs).
6. Intoxication, severe acute or chronic diseases, hypothermia. Particularly dangerous are chronic diseases that reduce local immunity, which makes the organ vulnerable to pathogens.
7. Aggressive environmental impact. Residents of megalopolises and industrial cities from birth are doomed to chronic malfunctions in the immune system. Continuous noise, vibration, pollution by exhaust gases and industrial waste, radiation - all this directly affects the maintenance of immunity.
Initial measures to increase immunity in children and adults
the main goal - identify the cause of a decrease in immunity and eliminate it. Unfortunately, it is impossible to detect the disease without a visit to the doctor. A chronic disease, such as diabetes, is diagnosed only in a medical institution, and treatment should be prescribed there. Diabetes inevitably causes disruptions in the functioning of the immune system and reduces the body’s ability to fight ailments, but timely treatment will remove these side effects.
Please note that with such diseases, not a single vitamin complex or folk remedy can help strengthen immunity - the problem is solved only compensation therapy or a complete cure.
There are other cases - in absolutely healthy people, the immune system does not function properly. In this case, doctors prescribe a number of measures aimed exclusively at increasing immunity.
Immune Enhanced Medicines
If you can not do without taking immunostimulants, then both the drug itself and its dosage should be deliberate and prescribed by the doctor. Uncontrolled unauthorized administration of immunostimulating drugs leads to irreversible violations in the development of immunity, the body will no longer be able to deal with ailments on their own.
The immunologist will prescribe the correct dosage and duration of treatment, for minimal interference with the system with maximum efficiency.
Most adaptogenic drugs to increase immunity are produced on the basis of plants - echinacea, ginseng, astragalus, eleutherococcus, etc. The release form is intended for both adults and children - it is in the form of sweet syrup and small granules.
Ginseng tincture drink three times a day, twenty drops, drink plenty of water. The course of treatment should not exceed a month, and ginseng is prohibited for pregnant and lactating women.
Echinacea Alcohol Tincture ("Immunal", "Echinacea forte") they drink up to three times a day for 0.5 teaspoon, also washed down with water. Treatment lasts no more than three weeks. "Immunal" can be prescribed even to infants, it increases the general resistance of the body, developing non-specific immunity.
Many others, different in their mechanism of action, immunotropic drugsare made from:
• active chemical components, analogues of hormones and stimulators of the thymus gland - “Timalin”, “Arbidol”, “Imustat”, “Ferrovir”, “Acyclovir”;
• stimulators of humoral immunity - Octagam, Bioven, Chigain, Mielopid, Likopid, Imudon, IRS-19;
• natural blood cells - "Interferon", "Viferon", and interferon inducers - "Cycloferon", "Immunoflam", "Amiksin";
• nucleic acids - Derinat, Sodium Nucleinate, Methyluracil.
Each of the above medicines has side effects that are dangerous to health and life in general, and if the body really needs immunotherapy, it should be carried out under the supervision of doctors, only after an immunogram.
The effect of vitamins on increasing immunity in children and adults
Without vitamins, as you know, the life of a healthy person will not even begin. And it's not about vitamin supplements (or rather, not only about them). If the expectant mother does not eat fully, and does not receive natural vitamins with food, then the state of health of both her and the child will not be the best in the coming years. Vitamins, essential minerals, and protein are essential - the basic principle of nutrition of any person. What vitamins help boost immunity, and in which foods can they be found?
Every day, the human body needs vitamins of groups A, B, C, E.
Vitamin A rich in all plant foods - carrots, bell peppers, pumpkin (all orange and red vegetables and fruits), herbs, cabbage, as well as sea fish, liver, eggs and milk.
Vitamin B - "anti-inflammatory vitamin", it is found in tomatoes, legumes, buckwheat, seeds, nuts, oatmeal, dairy products, caviar, beef meat, and in sprouted cereals. With muscle inflammation, B vitamins effectively and quickly fight it.
Vitamin Cas many people know, it is found in citrus fruits, but not everyone knows that regular use of a decoction or extract from rose hips or sea buckthorn supplies the body with vitamin C no worse than citrus fruits. In addition, they are rich in blackcurrant, cabbage and parsley. A sufficient amount of vitamin C in the diet is the key to strong immunity.
Vitamin E possesses the most powerful antioxidant property, indispensable in strengthening immunity. Its main goal is to protect healthy cells from damage. A lot of vitamin E can be taken from unrefined sunflower and butter, liver, spinach, seeds, nuts, as well as a lot of vitamin E in cabbage and whole grain bread.
By all means, every day the body must receive in sufficient quantities trace elements and minerals:
• iron - its deficiency most often leads to problems in the functioning of the immune system; most of all iron is in beef, pork blood, horse meat, meat, poultry liver and fish, as well as in sprouted wheat, dried fruits and nuts;
• magnesium (shellfish, soy, greens, walnuts, pumpkin);
• potassium (legumes, tomatoes, radishes, melons, dried fruits and baked potatoes);
• zinc (sunflower seeds, walnuts, hazelnuts, cereals, meat, wheat bran);
• copper (Bulgarian red pepper, tomatoes, buckwheat, oats, strawberries and nuts);
• iodine (seafood, beets, green peas, seaweed and fish).
Fermented milk products also cause the body's natural production of interferon, therefore it is recommended to include kefir, fermented baked milk or yogurt in the daily diet.
The most important thing with reduced immunity is protein food. Every day, a person needs to eat meat and / or fish. Protein - the main "fighter" of the body for a healthy immunity. Protein food of plant origin (legumes, mushrooms) is enough to eat once a week, and animal - daily.
Multivitamin complexes are indispensable for increasing immunity in children
The amount of vitamins and minerals necessary for a growing organism is undoubtedly different than for an adult that has formed. Children need a much richer energy menu and vitamins. To prevent the occurrence of hypovitaminosis in a child is very dangerous, since there is a high probability of developing immunodeficiency in this case.
Children are given adapted multivitamin agents in the autumn-spring period. A complex of vitamins with trace elements should be selected by a doctor. Although synthetic vitamins have long been used in medicine, not all parents consider it necessary to give such drugs to their children. This is far from always reasonable, especially in cases where the child’s body does not receive food or absorb any vitamin or trace element.
Universal methods to enhance immunity
After eliminating the cause of the immunodeficiency, you can use long-tested in the people means to increase immunity.
Lifestyle is a decisive tool!
1. Getting rid of bad habits will immediately give a "breath of air" to the immune system. Alcohol, smoking, especially drugs, catastrophically inhibit immune cells.
2. Remove stressful situations, ensure a good rest every day in a calm environment, it is better to retire for an hour, completely relax.
3. A huge role in increasing immunity is played by sleep, you need to go to bed no later than 22:00. It is in a dream two hours before midnight that the body receives the lion's share of recovery.
4. Frequent regular physical activity. Without sparing himself, every day you need to perform the maximum number of general strengthening exercises for various muscle groups. Hiking, and better jogging, very well stimulate the metabolic processes of the whole organism.
five. Hardening procedures - you can go to the pool, in the summer - water procedures in nature, home dousing, contrast shower, improve blood circulation and supply of organs with oxygen.
6. Nutrition according to the regimen. The recommended diet was described in the previous section of the article. Three hours before bedtime, it is better not to eat, for dairy foods the best snack will be fermented milk products.
Folk remedies, herbs and plants that increase immunity in children and adults
With weakened immunity, traditional healers primarily recommend:
• honey, bee products (propolis, bee bread and royal jelly), if there is no allergy;
• Kalanchoe;
• Siberian berries (viburnum, cranberries, mountain ash, lingonberries, blueberries, blackberries and wild strawberries), especially in fruit drinks, or in grated form with honey;
• ginger;
• radish;
• rose hips;
• aloe;
• echinacea;
• lemon.
Regularly eating each of these ingredients as an independent product, a person can be said to be “charged" with health. But there are recipes that combine these and other useful products in the most digestible form.
Hearty mashed potatoes to enhance immunity
Wash and place 2/3 cup dried apricots, raisins, figs and prunes in a glass bowl, pour boiled water so that it covers dried fruits. Leave for a couple of hours. Drain the remaining water, and chop the swollen dried fruit using a blender or meat grinder. Add ½ cup light honey and aloe juice.
For two weeks, eat 2 tablespoons of vitamin puree to increase immunity 4 times a day.
Vitamin drinks to strengthen immunity
Vitamin broth
Half a liter of water;
• 1 tablespoon of raw chopped ginger and raisins;
• 2 tablespoons of grated raw carrots.
Pour water into enameled dishes, add the rest of the ingredients, put on a strong fire and bring to a boil. Remove, cover with a warm towel, wait a little warm state. Strain the broth and drink at once.
Take a vitamin decoction once a day for a week, take a week break and repeat the course.
Berry and vegetable juice with herbs
Take a glass of fresh fruits of mountain ash, raspberry leaves, dandelion, coltsfoot, and a bunch of fresh spinach leaves, and squeeze the juice from each ingredient separately, previously chopped.
Mix everything together, add a little water and drink in one gulp. Apply twice a week until the desired effect is achieved.
Herbal tea
In equal parts, take crushed ingredients:
• mint leaves;
• strawberry leaves;
• buckthorn bark;
• birch leaves;
• fruits of mountain ash;
• raspberry leaves.
Carefully mixed, as much as possible crushed ingredients, use as tea leaves instead of tea. Drink a tasty drink like tea, in the desired amount, during the day.
Soothing Rosehip Herbal Tea
Half a liter of boiling water pour 0.5 cups of chopped fresh lemon balm leaves and a handful of dried rose hips. Insist 20 minutes and drink instead of tea.
Pear infusion
Take five branches up to five centimeters long from the following plants:
• young plums;
• raspberries;
• young cherries;
• lindens;
• chokeberry.
Break the branches into small pieces, and cut five wild pears into small slices.
You can brew the mixture like tea, in a thermos, and drink during the day, diluting with water.
Please note: it’s better to fill with boiling water only plant branches and fruits, and it’s more useful to pour herbs and roots with warm water at night and drink the next day. So in the infusion will remain the maximum active bioactive substances.
Wine immune "cocktail"
In a glass dish, place 1 tablespoon of aloe juice, pour half a glass of natural light honey and red dry wine. Mix thoroughly, close the dishes tightly and leave the “cocktail” in a dark place for a week.
The finished product is taken three times a day for a tablespoon for a week. You can repeat the course again in a week.
Once again, we note that all folk remedies and multivitamins will help increase immunity only if cured of the underlying disease, which initially led to immunodeficiency.
