The doctor spoke about the work of the immune system in the fight against pathogens

The human body has a complex defense system that is activated upon contact with pathogenic organisms. Dmitry Semiryadov, a nutritionist and nutritionist, told Izvestia about her work and ways to strengthen it on March 18.

According to him, the immune system has three lines of defense when faced with viruses and infections. The first of these is barrier fabric. These are the skin and mucous membranes. Passing through the nose, the inhaled air comes into contact with the mucous membrane. Nasal mucus has antiseptic properties. Particles that settle along the way, including viruses and bacteria, are removed along with mucus due to the action of cilia lining the surface of the bronchi and bronchioles.

The goal of the virus is to overcome all protective barriers, enter the cell and replace its genome, the doctor emphasized. Some microorganisms still get to it and infect it. Then the second line of defense is activated — the alarm system. Special cytokine molecules "turn on" cells of the innate immune system to fight the pathogen, the specialist explained.

"If innate immunity fails, acquired immunity comes into play. Smart cells, lymphocytes, are a self—learning system that aims to destroy the virus," Semiriadov said.

According to him, four to seven days after the onset of the disease, the inflammatory reaction usually decreases, the temperature drops, the symptoms go away, and the body repairs damaged tissues. The person feels that he is recovering.

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"The most accessible ways to activate the immune system are physical activity, hardening and maintaining a normal vitamin level. A person sitting in a place circulates from 3.5 to 5.5 liters of blood per minute. Under load, this indicator increases 3-5 times. In addition, immune cells (native killer cells and T-native cells) spread faster throughout the body. Interferons reach other cells faster, and the concentration of immune cells in the respiratory organs increases," the expert noted.

Semiriadov added that the immune system is strongly affected by deficiencies of vitamins D and C, as well as trace elements such as zinc and iron. The doctor advised to regularly monitor their level.

However, he stressed that it is important to avoid overdoses. So, you should carefully take zinc for kidney failure and the presence of chronic diseases, as well as combine them with certain medications. Increased doses of vitamin D are contraindicated in hypercalcemia and hypervitaminosis, and also require monitoring in people with chronic kidney or parathyroid gland diseases.

On March 17, Olga Ulankina, an expert at the Hemotest laboratory, told Izvestia about the dangers of expired and counterfeit medicines. According to her, it is dangerous to take expired medications that regulate the functioning of the heart and nervous system. Also, in some medicines (especially in liquid forms — syrups, drops, suspensions), bacteria can multiply over time, she added. According to her, the situation with counterfeit drugs is more serious: they can have an unpredictable effect on the body.