Memo for parents on how to increase the child's immunity. How to spend summer holidays with health benefits and strengthen immunity
- Causes of weak immunity
Immunity is usually formed in the prenatal period and the first years of life. If the baby is very often sick, can catch a cold from the slightest breeze or wet feet, has a tendency to allergies - you should visit an immunologist. Immunologists specialize in the study of the work and development of immunity in childhood, and the peculiarities of immunization of healthy children.
- Concomitant diseases
The cause of low immunity may be hidden in other diseases, such as intestinal diseases. After all, it is in it that 70 % immunomodulatory cells are concentrated. Also, immunity can be weakened after severe diseases, such as pneumonia, sore throat, intestinal infections.
- Uncontrolled medication intake
Even those medicines that are supposed to help children fight diseases can be harmful if taken without a doctor's recommendation.
In addition, it is worth noting that immunity is formed only through contact with the pathogen. If you start giving your child an antibiotic for a minor cold, keep in mind that this will only harm the formation of a strong immune system of the baby. Strange as it may sound, but children need to get sick so that the immune system meets pathogens and learns to resist them.
- Excessive sterility
Recently, the problem of excessive sterility has become relevant, which, according to experts, is the cause of the increase in the number of allergies and autoimmune diseases.
Children should be in contact with the world around them, even if it is dirty and full of germs, because this is the only way to form immune memory and train immunity.
- Failure to comply with the general rules of disease prevention
Banal and simple recommendations are really important for the health of children. All pediatricians in the world agree that children need walks in the fresh air, even in bad weather. Of course, you should not walk during a stormy wind or blizzard, but you should not cancel a walk because of a little rain or a frosty day. The main thing is to take care of appropriate clothing and footwear.
- How to strengthen the child's immunity
So we smoothly came to the main question - what should be done to strengthen the child's immunity? Indeed, strong immunity can protect against many bacteria and viruses. Even if the baby gets sick, the disease should pass faster, easier and without complications.
We will not recommend immunomodulatory drugs, because most doctors do not approve their use, especially by children. We offer you to get acquainted with simple and effective ways to improve your health.
- Balanced nutrition
Just as there is no magic pill to boost immunity, there are no fruits or vegetables that guarantee protection against all diseases. Although it is possible to identify more useful products, the key is not the products themselves, but the culture of eating. A balanced diet, regular meals, seasonal and local fruits and vegetables - all this will help to strengthen the immune system.
- Physical activity
Walks in the fresh air, active ball games, cycling, sports and morning exercises will help not only strengthen the immune system, but also improve brain function, strengthen the musculoskeletal system and overall physical health.
- Healthy sleep
The child should go to bed no later than 22:00 and get up early. This is necessary for proper psycho-emotional development and overall health. The children's room should be aired for at least 20 - 30 minutes before rest. In summer, you can start practicing sleeping with the window open for ventilation (avoid drafts).
- Hardening
Hardening should be started gradually. You can teach your child to wash his/her face and feet at night with cold water. Also take a shower, reducing the water temperature by 1 degree each time.
After bathing, if the child is healthy, pour cool water over him/her and then wipe him/her well with a dry towel. In summer, water procedures on the river or lake are mandatory, and in autumn and winter, visit the pool with your baby. Swimming strengthens not only the immune system, but also the back.
To ensure that hardening does not harm, you should follow certain rules:
- Systematicity. Water procedures should be repeated every day.
- The water temperature should be reduced gradually.
- The duration of the procedures should also be increased gradually.
- First, the shoulders and arms are doused, then the back and legs, and finally the head (slowly and carefully).
- If the baby is sick, the procedures should be stopped until the moment of complete recovery.
Recreational rest
Travel more with children, go hiking, spend time outdoors. Ideally, it is the mountains. You can go on weekends out of town. In the warm season, do not neglect walks and rest in the woods. An ideal health holiday for a child is a vacation at the Kyivska Russ Resort Medical & Spa and rehabilitation at the Skhidnytsia Medical Center.
Of course, it is impossible and unnecessary to completely avoid illness in childhood. However, helping your child to get sick less often and recover faster is quite an achievable goal.