Immune deficiency can be a huge disruption to physical and emotional well being. But being informed about the condition can help you minimize changes in your lifestyle. Here are 7 facts that will help. What does it mean to be immune deficient? This is the body's inability to naturally defend itself against disease and infection. It presents as frequent illness and complications to relatively minor health problems. It is also evidenced by unusual length and severity of illness. What causes it? It can be the result of genetics---being born with a cell structure that does not allow the body to effectively fight off disease and infection to any reasonable extent. It can also be the side effect of medications, chemotherapy, and the AIDS virus. Can it be reversed? If temporary causes such as chemotherapy and medications are stopped, the immune system is usually able to repair and function more normally. Reversal can be supported by proper diet, vitamin supplements, proper rest, and minimizing exposure to those who are more likely to be carriers of germs and viruses---large crowds of people and small children. What kinds of medicines can disarm the immune system? Steroids are powerful drugs that reduce inflammation but they suppress the immune system's ability to function properly. Antibiotics kill bad germs but they are notorious for killing off the good germs which are generally the first and best line of natural defense against infection. How big a part does proper diet really play? Proper diet and nutrition play a huge part in boosting the body's natural ability to defend itself. Eating a properly balanced diet of vitamin rich foods such as vegetables, fruits, lean meat, fish, and poultry will strengthen the body's natural defenses. Malnutrition is often at the root of a poorly functioning immune system. How does sleep affect the immune system? Getting the required amount of sleep is one of the best ways to strengthen your immunity. Adults require anywhere from 7 to 9 hours of sleep each night to function well on a physical and emotional level. Sleeping for the proper duration each night allows the body to produce protein molecules that repair damaged or weakened cells. This repair helps keep cells strong so they are more able to fight off bacteria and viruses to which the body is exposed. Can filtering the air help? The right type of filtration can be an essential part of helping you stay healthy. Hospitals use high efficiency particle arresting (or HEPA) filtration because by definition it is able to remove airborne particles as small as.3 microns with 99.97% accuracy. And even though many bacteria and viruses are smaller that.3 microns, most attached to larger particles such as dust, dust mites, mold and mildew spores, and pet dander. As the HEPA eliminates these particles it is also eliminating the germs that are attached as well. This type of filtration is an excellent way to limit exposure to airborne pollutants and germs for those whose immune system has been compromised because of organ transplants, cancer, radiology, chemotherapy or the AIDS Virus.
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