Jun 21, 2021

Immune System Health

Healthy Living.

Your immune system is an essential part of keeping your body healthy and functioning properly. Many people do not realize which factors play into maintaining a healthy immune system.  When you take care of your immune system, you take care of your overall health and decrease your chance of getting sick.

What is the immune system?

The immune system is made up of multiple organs, cells, and proteins in your body. The immune system recognizes microorganisms that don’t belong and works to eliminate anything that could be harmful.

The first line of defense in your immune system is your skin. Skin acts as an initial barrier against anything that should not enter the body. However, there are many other places where harmful organisms can get in, including the mouth, eyes, and nose. When this happens, antibodies in your saliva and mucus can begin to fight the harmful organisms.

If you’ve ever heard the term “fighting an infection or illness,” it is your immune system that is doing the fighting. You can do a few things to help keep your immune system strong so that when it needs to fight a harmful organism, it is well prepared.

Take your vitamins.

There are lots of vitamins found in food or in supplements that support the immune system. These include

  • Echinacea
  • Elderberry
  • Andrographis
  • Vitamin C
  • Vitamin D

All of these vitamins can be found in natural sources such as fruits and vegetables or the sun. However, some people find that they need a little extra help getting certain vitamins. In that case, it can be helpful to take supplements.

Create Healthy Habits.

Certain lifestyle habits can help support your immune system.

  • Don’t smoke.
  • Get regular exercise.
  • Drink in moderation.
  • Get enough sleep.
  • Stay hydrated.
  • Wash your hands frequently
  • Reduce your stress levels
  • Stay up to date on vaccines
When you take care of your immune system, you create good habits, improve overall health, and reduce the likelihood of getting sick.

Sign up for our newsletter!

Get the Latest news, tips, and resources from Crisp Regional Hospital.