7 Doctor-Approved Ways to Boost Your Immunity Right Now

• 7 Doctor-Approved Ways to Boost Your Immunity Right Now

  
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  Stop the flu in its tracks with these must-know tips from doctors.

• 1. Try the Sock Trick

  
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  "A long time ago, a friend who's a naturopath told me about the wet sock remedy: When your child has a fever, soak a pair of socks in cold water, put them in the freezer for about 15 minutes, then place them on her feet under some wool socks. At first it seemed cruel, but she assured me that it makes a kid who's running a fever more comfortable. Some people even believe it boosts circulation, delivering immune-fighting cells more rapidly. I'm not sure about that, but I know it has helped dozens of my friends' kids sleep better, and eventually to want to eat and drink — and those things certainly improve your immune response. It's worth a try." —Lawrence Rosen, M.D., integrative pediatrician and founder of the Whole Child Center in Oradell, NJ

• 2. Watch for These Red Flags

  
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  "People always want to know how often someone with a 'normal' immune system should get sick. The truth is there's no magic number of bugs you should catch each year. Some people just get sick more often than others. But if you get certain types of infections over and over, that may be a concern. One in 500 people is born with primary immunodeficiency (PI) syndrome. Its hallmarks: four or more ear infections a year, two or more sinus infections, a need for more than one antibiotic to clear up an infection, frequent fevers, and swollen lymph nodes. I know people who have suffered with PI for 25 years without a diagnosis! It's a shame, because for some forms of PI, a simple blood test is all you need to start on the road to better health. If you are diagnosed with PI, treatment can be very easy — you might just need regular office visits — and your quality of life will improve immensely." —James Fernandez, M.D., Ph.D., an allergist and immunologist at Cleveland Clinic in Cleveland

• 3. Yogurt Might Keep You Well

  
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  "People often think that eating probiotics will strengthen their immune system. There's something to that: Probiotics won't work miracles to prevent illness, but if you've been sick and had to be on an antibiotic, they may help. There are good bacteria in your gut that help protect you from bugs that can cause diarrhea. Taking an antibiotic can rob your gut of those bacteria, leaving you vulnerable to illness. In fact, I've had several friends who started having tummy trouble after being sick. So next time you have an infection, ask your doctor about taking probiotics with the medicine; doing so can help shield your immunity." —Beth Corn, M.D., associate professor of medicine at Icahn Medical School and the division of immunology at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York City

• 4. The Flu Shot Can't Make You Sick

  
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  "I've noticed among friends that there's still some confusion about how vaccines work. I'm happy to explain it if it means they'll get their flu shot. You already know that your immune system functions like an army to destroy invading viruses or pathogens. So think of vaccines as a drill: They help your immune system practice fighting off these bad guys, so when it's actually under attack, it's less likely to get overwhelmed. The flu shot, for example, has a small amount of dead virus in it. It spurs your immune system to produce antibodies against the bug, so if you're exposed to the live virus, they can kill it off and you won't get sick. Which brings me to another point: You can't get influenza from the flu shot, because, as you'll remember, the virus is dead. However, since it takes two to four weeks for your body to build up immunity, you could get sick if you're exposed to the virus during that time. Before you head to the doctor, know too that starting this year, everyone should get a prick in the arm. The nasal spray that was used mostly on children is not recommended — it just wasn't as effective as we'd like. Still, the pain is minor, so don't skip yours!" —Walter A. Orenstein, M.D., associate director of the Emory University Vaccine Center in Atlanta

• 5. Sleep More the Week Before Thanksgiving

  
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  "Friends are already complaining, 'I always get a cold at Thanksgiving — what can I do to prevent it?' My advice: Make sure you sleep at least eight hours a night, starting several days prior to the holiday. Research has shown that getting only five to six hours a night the week before makes you more than four times as likely to end up coughing and sneezing. Sleep allows your immune system to regenerate overnight: While you sleep, your body releases chemicals called cytokines that help you better fight infection. My parents, who at their age may be more prone to illness, have found that getting some extra zzz's helps them stay well during visits with their grandkids. It isn't glamorous or sexy, but it works!" —Helen Koenig, M.D., M.P.H., instructor of medicine and infectious disease at the University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine in Philadelphia

• 6. Work With Your Immune System

  
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  "Your immune system's primary purpose is to recognize foreign bugs in your body. When you come in contact with an infection, it tries to prevent you from getting sick by making antibodies, which help kill off these unwanted visitors. So your immune system is always on alert, working to keep you healthy — or at least it should be. Occasionally doctors meet a patient who seems to be sick all the time, which is a sign that their immune system is weakened. Other times it becomes so active that it begins to attack another part of the body, like the thyroid or joints, developing what we call an autoimmune disease. So I always stress the importance of regular checkups to my friends. If there's a problem, your doctor will spot it. Simply sharing your medical history can tell us a lot. If we find that you have recurrent infections or some other sign of an immune disorder—or even a family history, since they're often genetic—there's testing we can do to make sure your immune system is doing its job." —Philip Robinson, M.D., vice president of the Infectious Disease Association of California 

• 7. That's a New Cold, Actually

  
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  "So often I'll hear a friend say that their family keeps catching the same virus over and over again, and I have to tell them that's a myth. Once you get a particular strain of a cold or flu, your body builds up antibodies to it, so you can't catch it again. You can come down with a new strain, though, which isn't uncommon because in the winter, there are lots of viral strains floating around that look and feel the same. That's why it's so important to take steps to prevent the spread, especially at home. The good news is, the more you're around colds and viruses, the more immunity you build — be exposed enough and you'll have antibodies saved up for almost any strain that's out there. My pediatrician friends rarely catch a cold. They come into contact with viruses all the time, but since they're always washing their hands, they don't often get sick; instead, they build immunity." —William Schaffner, M.D., professor of preventive medicine at Vanderbilt University Medical School in Nashville

source : Redbook (http://www.redbookmag.com/)

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