How to Maintain a Healthy Immune System

Your immune system. It's the human defense system that keeps you healthy. If you don't do all you can to maintain a healthy immune system, you will be more in danger of catching an illness. Reading this article will educate you on keeping your defenses strong.

Instructions

1

Eat a well balanced and healthy diet. The old saying "You are what you eat" comes into play here. If you are a healthy human being, you probably eat in a healthy and well balanced manor. However, if you are sick all the time and don't always feel your best, what you are eating might reveal why you feel this way. Cutting most of the junk foods from your diet and eat healthily from all major food groups at least 3 or 4 times per day is an excellent start. Some people, particularly young adults, either skip meals or aren't getting all the vitamins and minerals they should be getting. This type of lifestyle could negatively effect you in the future by causing you to get sick often, always be tired and groggy and could set you up for certain types of cancers as you get older. If you need help on developing a healthy diet, ask your doctor for help.

2

Get plenty of sleep. Many young adults and some middle-aged adults don't get the recommended 6 to 9 hours of sleep recommended by sleep medicine professionals. According to a blind study performed by a group of independent sleep medicine professionals, 35 percent of those surveyed (adults age 18-35) have admitted to getting less than 6 hours of sleep throughout the week. Sleep is very important because while you sleep, your immune system is rebuilding itself. If you aren't getting enough sleep, your body doesn't have time to work at rebuilding itself thus you will have a weaker immune system than that of a person who gets a good night's rest. If you are having trouble sleeping, you are encouraged to talk to your doctor about this, because not being able to sleep at night can be as simple as making a few changes to your lifestyle or as severe as chronic insomnia which needs to be medically examined. Undiagnosed sleep problems could lead to sleep apnea and sleep walking; both major sleeping disorders.

3

Exercise regularly. According to a study done by a group of South Carolina nutritionists, 47 percent of adults age 18-35 admit to not exercising like they should. Exercising regularly can do a number of things for your immune system including: dumping infectious organisms from your system through urine and sweat, slowing the release of the stress hormone cortisol and increasing your blood flow to warn your body of threats to the immune system. Not exercising can have a series of negative effects including the possibility of being overweight and your ability to fight off infection can be decreased by 25 percent. If you have trouble creating an exercise routine that would fit your lifestyle, ask your doctor for help because they can probably come up with a safe plan that fits you best.

4

Practice safe sex. Sexually transmitted viral infections such as HIV, hepatitis and herpes simplex can dramatically lower your ability to fight off infections because they attack the cells responsible for your immunity, your white blood cells. Practicing safe sex or abstinence can help reduce your chances of contracting these diseases. Especially if you're under 21 and sexually active, if you have any concerns about STDs you should ask your health care professional. Also, if you can't afford birth control or especially condoms, go to your local health department. In many jurisdictions, health departments offer contraceptives at little or most of the time no charge.