How Does an Improved Immune System Help to Fight COVID-19? General Health Tips March 19, 2020 Dr. Jenny Li The outbreak of COVID-19 has had people from all over the world in a state of panic and distress at how this global crisis can turn into a pandemic. Unfortunately, this has already happened. Previously known as the “2019 Novel Coronavirus”, COVID-19 is a highly infectious respiratory disease that was first discovered in Wuhan, China and has since spread all across the globe. While the transmission of COVID-19 is highly infectious, there are ways to fight the disease from spreading — one of them is to boost and strengthen your immune system. Ways to Have an Improved Immune System People with weak immune systems are more susceptive to COVID-19. For this reason, having a strong and improved immune system is crucial during this period. A strong immune system is needed to fight such infectious viruses that could potentially be deadly. Here are a few ways to have an improved immune system to fight against COVID-19. Practice Basic Hygiene Source: Nathan Dumlao on Unsplash According to multiple health organisations, the best way to prevent infection is to avoid being exposed to the virus. This ultimately means practising good personal hygiene with simple steps like cleaning your hands often. Wash your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds if you’ve been in a public place, or coughing and sneezing lately. Alternatively, use a hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol and rub them all over your hands until dry. Don’t forget to avoid touching any part of your face with unwashed hands! Get Adequate Sleep Source: Matheus Vinicius on Unsplash Having enough sleep plays a vital role in strengthening your immune system. Studies show that people who are sleep deprived are more prone to getting sick. Without sufficient sleep, your body does not make enough cytokines, which are small proteins essential for creating an immune response. What’s more, is that sleep loss can even make vaccines and medication less effective, reducing your body’s ability to respond to them. To stay healthy, ensure that you get the recommended seven to eight hours of sleep every night to have an improved immune system that will fight against health issues such as heart disease and diabetes. Exercise Moderately Source: Jonathan Borba on Unsplash Exercising on a regular basis has been scientifically proven to strengthen one’s immune system. According to Professor Arne Akbar, the president of the British Society for Immunology and a professor at University College London, he mentions that consistent exercise mobilises the white blood cells, which guards our bodies against infection — even just one workout can already improve our ability to fight off germs. Jeffrey Woods, a professor of kinesiology and community health at the University of Illinois in Urbana-Champaign, who studies exercise and immunity says, “It is fair to say that a large increase in exercise intensity and/or duration might have transient negative effects on the immune system”. Practice moderate exercise and avoid vigorous workouts — sometimes less is truly more. Since older people are more vulnerable to infection, it is important to do whatever exercise possible as this improves your overall fitness, hence boosting your immune system. Conclusion Source: Pixabay Poor postures from sitting down and working long hours can often develop nagging shoulder pain and back pain. These can be a hindrance on the quality of our daily lives. Having to manage the workload from home, all these stresses can be built up daily and compromise our immunity system. If you’d like to look into chiropractic care to manage your pain, we are here to help. Singapore Pain Solutions is a trusted chiropractic practice. We specialise in an array of professional chiropractic treatments, chronic body pain ailments as well as treating posture problems. Do join us on Facebook for our weekly stretches or contact us to resolve any critical pain. A Note From Dr Jenny: The article has been edited on 8th May 2020 to reflect more clarity on the information provided. At Singapore Pain Solutions, our goal is always to help more people with chiropractic care. Featured image by Macau Photo Agency on Unsplash