Is your immune system ready for winter? Pune Speaks Up

During winters, our immunity tends to get low, making us vulnerable to various ailments like common cold, flu, joint pain, constipation and respiratory infection. Speak Up finds out how to stay fit and healthy during this season

A well balanced diet is the key to a healthy body
Your immunity can be innate or acquired. The innate immunity prevents entry of foreign bodies into the tissues. It eliminates virus before it cause any disease.

Acquired immunity only occurs in response to an actual infection as the immune system adapts itself to fight these foreign bodies and rid your body of potential disease. The best way to avoid cold is to prevent it in the first place. Wash your hands frequently using soap and water or alcohol-based sanitizers. A well balanced diet, which includes carbohydrates, proteins, fats and micronutrients, is the key to maintain a healthy immune system.

In winters, keep your body warm. If your body is cold, it will have a hard time to fight germs. If people around you have cold, ask them to wear a mask so that when they cough or sneeze, they won’t spread the germs. If you are sick, stay at home and keep your distance from other people to prevent the spread of flu.

It is also important to exercise regularly for a healthy working body. Also, drinking lots of fluids helps to flush out the toxins from the body. Drink at least 8 glasses of water per day. Lemon and orange juices have high amounts of vitamin C, which boost the immune system. The use of anti-viral drugs can also help to protect you against contracting flu.

—Dr Rohinee Motwani, dietician

It is best to avoid antibiotics to treat viral infections
Children are the most affected due to seasonal changes and they are prone to respiratory tract infections. The most important thing for parents to realise is that cold, cough and other respiratory tract infections are viral in origin. Therefore, it is best to avoid antibiotics and steroids to treat the disease. Using these will only hamper the child’s natural immunity system.

Most of the viral infections stimulate the natural immune system and it is of utmost importance that it is developed without disturbing it. There are instances where viral infections stimulate pneumonia and other diseases. In such cases, parents should watch out for symptoms such as flaring of the nostrils and
retraction in the front of the neck and chest.

If these symptoms are noticed, the child must be taken to see the doctor immediately. Respiratory infections usually settle down in 4-5 days. They can easily be cured by using home remedies. Adults suffering from cold and cough should stay away from children as they easily catch infections.

—Dr BS Ratta, paediatric surgeon

The body dehydrates during winters, so have lots of water
It is important to build your immune system by following a well balanced diet. Certain food items like fruits, vegetables, wholegrains  and nuts help in building a strong immune system.

Also, vitamins A, C and E, iron and zinc help in boosting immunity.
All the yellow and red fruits and vegetables are rich in carotenoids that get converted to vitamin A in our body. Intake of vitamin C is equally important and is found in citrus fruits, amla and guava.  The body tends to dehydrate during winters so it is important to keep it hydrated with water and soups. Drink tea and coffee in moderation as these are diuretics. Along with a balanced diet, sleep well and do some yoga.

—Rekha Sharma, nutritionist

Avoid viral illness with the help of natural remedies
You can gear up for the winter season by adopting a proper lifestyle. One option is to drink homemade herbal tea every day. One can make it using ginger, cinnamon or nutmeg, among other things. Also, inhaling steam helps to clean your respiratory tract.

Regular exercising is also of utmost importance. It rejuvenates and helps the body recuperate faster from illness. I also tell my patients to take care of the six tastes. The sweet taste must be kept proportionate while the others (sour, salty, bitter pungent and astringent) suit the body more during winters. Viral illnesses can be easily avoided with the help of natural remedies and precautions.

—Dr Sachin Nandedkar, Ayurveda Specialist

Wear warm clothes and avoid cold food items in this season
The most important advice I give to all my patients is to stay warm during the winter season. Wear warm clothes and avoid cold food items in this season. Keeping warm avoids direct exposure to a lot of illnesses. Also, cold food items multiply the viruses already present in your body.

On the other hand, anything hot or warm kills germs. Another important thing is to maintain good hygiene. For example, wash your hands regularly. It helps in getting rid of germs. A lot of upper respiratory illnesses can be prevented with care and caution. But it is important to treat cold and cough otherwise it could lead to serious diseases.

—Dr Seemab Shaikh, ENT surgeon