Strengthening the immune system is one of the most discussed topics right now.. Many people are worried about how to prepare for the cold season.. Popular advice - drink immunostimulants. There will always be those who want to talk about some “wonderful remedy” that has been helping family, neighbors, girlfriends for more than a year... And doctors ask where did you get the idea that you need it?

WHAT WE WANT FROM THEM?

Immunostimulants have become a familiar part of our autumn life. The child is moping and does not want to go to school? Now we give him drops, drink the course - and order. A project is expected to be handed over, and you often catch a cold? On the advice of a colleague, we drink a magic remedy for the future, which “well, it always helps everyone perfectly”.

Meanwhile, doctors warn: the immune system is too complex to be “spurred on” like this, easily.. How it works is explained simply and intelligibly in her blog by immunologist Tatyana Tikhomirova, who now lives in Philadelphia. In short, a healthy life requires a balance of two forces: pro-inflammatory (causes inflammation, kills invaders - microbes or viruses) and anti-inflammatory (controls the process of " Imbalance is fraught with serious consequences - for example, infectious-toxic shock. By default, immunostimulants should not be taken by those whose relatives suffer from autoimmune diseases (among them - rheumatoid arthritis, systemic lupus erythematosus, type 1 diabetes).

WHAT CAN WE GET?

Fortunately, most immunostimulants sold in pharmacies do not seriously affect the immune system of a generally healthy person.. With flu and colds, they can really help (but this is not a fact). But doctors do not advise drinking them at random "

How a person determines that he needs to increase immunity? Usually focusing on the classic signs of its decline: frequent colds, inflammatory diseases, turning into chronic, long-term healing wounds on the skin. One “but”: there are a lot of other things that give these symptoms. Only a doctor can determine what's wrong. Therefore, it makes no sense to transfer time and money to “maybe it will help”. It is better to spend them wisely: go to an appointment with a specialist, be examined, find the root cause - and now deal with it. FYI: Only 5% of people actually have problems with the immune system that require serious treatment.. And simple, safe and effective ways to support the body's defenses have long been known: eat right, sleep well, play sports. But it's so boring.

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