Getting more sleep (or better quality sleep), eating more fresh fruit and veggies, practicing good hygiene, drinking lots of purified water, and regular cardiovascular exercise are all proven ways to keep your immune system functioning the way it was designed to. [2] X Trustworthy Source Harvard Medical School Harvard Medical School’s Educational Site for the Public Go to source Your immune system will also benefit from cutting down on refined sugars (soda pop, candy, ice cream, most baked goods), reducing your alcohol consumption, and refraining from smoking tobacco products. In addition to poor lifestyle choices, people’s immune systems can be compromised by severe stress, debilitating diseases (cancer, diabetes, other infections), and certain medical procedures or prescriptions (surgery, chemotherapy, radiation, steroids, over-medicating).
Recommended daily intake of vitamin C ranges from 75 mg to 125 mg (depending on gender and whether or not you smoke). [5] X Research source There is not good evidence that taking any more than this amount will improve your immune system. [6] X Research source To combat infections, consider taking at least 1,000 mg daily in two divided doses. Excellent natural sources of vitamin C include citrus fruits, kiwis, strawberries, tomatoes, and broccoli.
Other immune supplements include vitamins A and D, zinc, selenium, echinacea, and astragalus root. [8] X Trustworthy Source Harvard Medical School Harvard Medical School’s Educational Site for the Public Go to source Vitamin D3 is produced in your skin in response to intense summer sunshine and a necessary part of a healthy immune system — consider supplementing with D3 during winter months or year-round if you are not exposed to at least 15 minutes of direct sunshine every day.
Keep in mind that EBV can spread without the presence of any obvious symptoms. Although nicknamed the “kissing disease,” EBV infection can also spread via saliva from sharing beverages and utensils, as well as via other body fluids during sexual relations. While most Americans have been infected with EBV, mononucleosis appears more common in Caucasian than in African-American populations. Other risk factors for EBV infection include being female, living in tropical climates, and being sexually active.
EBV leads to mononucleosis in about 1/3 to 1/2 of teenagers and adults infected with the virus — common symptoms include fever, sore throat, swollen lymph glands and severe fatigue. Keep in mind that many over-the-counter medications for adults should not be given to children (aspirin in particular). In up to 1/2 of mononucleosis cases the spleen becomes swollen due to filtering all the abnormal blood cells out of the blood. Avoid excessive activity and any trauma to the abdomen if your spleen is inflamed (the area below your heart). Rare complications related to EBV include brain inflammation (encephalitis or meningitis), lymphoma, and some other cancers.
Anecdotal reports suggest that antiviral therapy might be effective in some cases of chronic EBV infection. [12] X Trustworthy Source PubMed Central Journal archive from the U. S. National Institutes of Health Go to source Drugs that suppress immunity can also inhibit the immune response to EBV and may allow virus-infected cells to proliferate further, so ask your doctor if the risk is worth it. Common side effects from taking antivirals include skin rash, stomach upset, diarrhea, fatigue, joint pain, headache, and dizziness. There have been substantial efforts to develop vaccines against EBV, but none are currently effective.
