27 May 2020

Curb Coronavirus: Two Steps to a Strong Immune System

Submitted by: Jaco van den Heever
Curb Coronavirus: Two Steps to a Strong Immune System

A healthy immune system is essential in fighting off infections. In light of the global coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic in 2020, people are becoming more conscious of their health and are looking for ways to boost their immunity to fight the possible contraction of the virus.

Many articles online argue that there isn't in fact much that can be done to boost your immunity against viruses like COVID-19, particularly through the use of supplements.But, what most health experts can agree on, is that the best way to ensure a healthy immune system is through two important lifestyle pillars:

1. Follow A Healthy Lifestyle

Strengthening your immune system essentially comes down to following a healthy lifestyle.The global crises has inevitably caused us all great stress, but managing your stress levels is important for maintaining a strong immune system.

a. Stress can be managed with enough sleep. Not getting enough sleep can increase stress hormones. Aim for 7 to 9 hours of sleep a night.

b. Get active! Physical activity has been proven to improve immune systems as well as to lower your stress hormones.

c. A healthy, balanced diet is essential for a healthy immune system. Try to include all the food groups, particularly fruit and vegetables, in order to get all the key vitamins and minerals you need to keep your body strong.

 

2. Reduce the Risk of Lifestyle Diseases

Lifestyle diseases such as hypertension, diabetes, cardiovascular disease and chronic kidney disease can increase your risk of fatality from viruses such as COVID-19.The first step is to understand if you are at risk for any of these diseases. This can be determined with a simple blood and/or urine test.

Booking your blood test is a simple click of the button away. Mybloodtest.co.za offers testing for diabetes as well as cardiovascular risk and lipogram (cholesterol and heart disease) bundles. These tests are able to evaluate the current level of your health and the associated risk factors for many of these lifestyle related diseases.

Following a healthy lifestyle will ultimately reduce the risk of the lifestyle diseases that can increase your risk of fatality of COVID-19. Stay informed about the status of your health with regular blood tests and health screenings.

Published in Health and Medicine