Covid-19: The Immune System Can Fight Back

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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 bodys immune
system. How well the bodys 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
  bodys 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.

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• 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 bodys 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?

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• 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.

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The bodys 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.