Table of contents:
- Myths about the immune system being proven wrong
- Myth # 1: Taking vitamins ward off disease
- Myth # 2: Covering your mouth prevents catching coughs or flu
- Myth # 3: Exercise makes you tired easily
- Myth # 4 Children need to take vitamins
- Myth # 5: Vaccines weaken the immune system
There are many ways you can do to increase the body's immune system. Even so, there are still those who believe in the immune system myth that is blatantly false. What are the myths?
Myths about the immune system being proven wrong
Myth # 1: Taking vitamins ward off disease
Wrong. Many people take high doses of vitamin C and vitamin A to avoid getting sick easily.
In fact, the daily multivitamins or supplements that you take are not used to boost your immune system. The vitamins and supplements you take help fill nutritional deficiencies in your body that may not be met from your daily diet.
Most taking vitamins is also not good. Excess vitamin A can make you poisoned, marked by yellowing of the skin, nausea and vomiting, and even symptoms of liver damage. This condition is called hypervitaminosis A.
Myth # 2: Covering your mouth prevents catching coughs or flu
Wrong. Covering your mouth when coughing or sneezing is the right etiquette to limit the spread of the disease, but it still doesn't stop the opportunity to spread it to other people around you. In fact, it is your immune system itself that determines how much you are at risk of contracting the disease.
The risk of contracting diseases such as flu and cough is not only the "responsibility" of the person who is sick, but also comes from yourself. If your immune system is in prime condition when you are near someone who has the flu, you will not catch it easily even if the person does not cover their mouth when they sneeze.
Likewise, if you wear a mask to prevent breathing in the virus or look away when someone sneezes. If your immune system is already weak before exposure to the virus, wearing a mask will not do much to reduce the risk of transmission
Not all viruses and bacteria can enter the body through the nose. Certain viruses and bacteria can land on surfaces and survive for hours. Touching these contaminated objects can increase your chances of contracting the disease. Therefore wash your hands frequently and avoid touching your face, especially your nose, mouth, and eyes with dirty hands.
Myth # 3: Exercise makes you tired easily
Wrong. Exercise will not make your immune system decrease, as long as you don't overdo it. Exercise can actually help strengthen the immune system against certain diseases. Routine exercise can also stabilize blood pressure and blood sugar to maintain body fitness.
Myth # 4 Children need to take vitamins
Wrong. Children do not need supplements to strengthen their endurance. The same principle as the consumption of vitamins or supplements for adults, the intake of additional supplements is only intended to meet the nutritional needs of children if deemed necessary.
If you are able to meet your child's daily nutritional needs through a healthy and balanced diet, your child does not need additional vitamins or supplements.
Myth # 5: Vaccines weaken the immune system
Wrong. Many parents hesitate or even refuse to have their children vaccinated. They think that the vaccine is an active virus that is intentionally inserted into the body so that it can reduce the child's resistance.
This vaccine myth has been proven wrong by much of the modern medical literature. Children already have the natural ability to protect themselves from viruses and bacteria since they are still in the womb. Although the child's immune system is not as strong as adults, it still needs to be strengthened by immunization to encourage the immune system to work even better.
Vaccines actually strengthen the child's immune system and do not damage or interfere with other healthy body cells.