Boost the immune system

Despite millions of rands invested into medical research, a cure for the common cold or the flu has yet to be discovered. BOOST

While a wide range of medicines are available to reduce the symptoms of the common cold and the flu, antibiotics are useless against the bugs responsible for these illnesses. The immune system is the body’s only line of defence. But stress, bad health habits and poor nutrition compromise the immune system’s ability to keep the cold and flu at bay.

This is according to Dr Anél Terblanche, Medical Officer at Samwumed Medical Scheme, who said that while general healthy living is the best way to give your immune system the upper hand, due to our busy lifestyles this isn’t always possible.

“While we know what we should be doing to keep healthy, it’s not easy to balance our health and the demands of day-to-day living.”

Dr Terblanche said prevention is better than a cure. “Ideally, to improve your immune system and prevent getting sick, it’s important to get good nutrition by eating enough fruit, vegetables and whole grains. It is equally important to reduce your stress by getting enough sleep and exercise.”

She suggests considering adding vitamin C and zinc supplementation to boost the immune system when a balanced lifestyle and diet aren’t enough.

VITAMIN C

A well-known immune booster, this powerful antioxidant helps to maintain collagen function and heighten the body’s ability to repair wounds. Along with its immune supportive function that helps the body fight against bacteria, viruses and other sources of infection, vitamin C also assists with iron uptake in the body. Iron is an important component of haemoglobin, the substance in red blood cells that carries oxygen from your lungs to transport it throughout your body. Haemoglobin represents about two thirds of the body’s iron. If you don’t have enough iron, your body can’t make enough healthy oxygen-carrying red blood cells.

VITAMIN D

Usually associated with building strong bones, a growing body of research suggests that vitamin D is vital for the proper functioning of the immune system. A fat-soluble vitamin, vitamin D is created when the skin is exposed to solar ultraviolet rays.

Doctors suggest we need to be exposed to approximately 15 minutes of sunlight per day to create enough vitamin D. It is important to know that supplementation of vitamin D should only be prescribed and controlled by a doctor, and only in patients who have proven low levels of Vitamin D.

ZINC

Present in every tissue, organ, fluid and secretion of the body, zinc is essential for proper immune function.

The World Health Organisation believes zinc deficiency is the leading cause of digestive tract infections among children. Critical for immune system function, low zinc levels is associated with increased susceptibility to pneumonia and other infections in the elderly.

Unlike certain vitamins, zinc is not stored for long periods of time in the body. This means that we need to get a constant supply of quality zinc either in our diet or by supplements. Meat and chicken are excellent sources of zinc, as are nuts and lentils. In a Western diet, food products such as breakfast cereal are fortified with zinc and these products provide an increasingly important source of zinc.

TAKING CONTROL

For most people and most colds, the usual course and duration of illness is up to one and a half weeks. People who only have mild symptoms generally do not require any symptomatic treatment.

Those suffering various symptoms associated with the common cold should treat them accordingly:

• Analgesics may be used to relieve associated symptoms (e.g. headache, ear pain, muscle and joint pains, malaise and sneezing)

• Symptomatic treatments for nasal symptoms that have moderate evidence of efficacy include combination products containing an antihistamine and a decongestant

• A cough associated with the common cold may be caused by nasal obstruction or postnasal drip. To relieve these symptoms, it is recommended that a cough suppression with dextromethorphan is used.

Although zinc sulphate lozenges and syrup may decrease cold symptom severity and duration, Dr Terblanche advises against using these because of uncertain benefits and known toxicities, including irreversible anosmia (loss of the sense of smell) for some of these products. She adds that people are encouraged to take hygienic measures such as handwashing, which can prevent the spread of respiratory viruses, especially from younger children.

This article was first published in the June 2020 issue of Pharmacy Magazine.