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Hats off to the Immune System
The immune system works. Here’s how to give it a hand.
It’s generally understood that having a weakened immune system may increase one’s risk of severe illness from COVID-19 as well as from other illnesses, and yet we seldom talk about what we can do to enhance our immunity.
The immune system is one of many systems of the body, such as the circulatory system, the digestive system, and the nervous system. All of these systems operate without our really thinking about them, unless something goes wrong.
The immune system protects us from bacteria, viruses, parasites and fungi, and from harmful substances in the environment. Plus, it fights disease-causing changes in the body, like cancer cells.
In all diseases, the difference between someone who dies and someone who gets mildly sick lies in the response of the individual immune system. Those with a genetic immunodeficiency disorder or a secondary immunodeficiency from active AIDS, cancer or viral hepatitis as well as those of advanced age, and those with underlying chronic illnesses, like diabetes and high blood pressure, are of greater risk for COVID-19 as well as other illnesses.
