In inflammatory rheumatic diseases, the immune system gets confused. It targets the body’s own tissue, resulting in inflammation. Rheumatism sufferers should therefore take special care of themselves, eat healthily, exercise a lot and avoid stress as much as possible.
Rheumatic sufferers cannot afford a weakened immune system, theirs body defense got confused anyway. It attacks your own body tissue instead of pathogens. Chronic inflammation is the result.
Thankfully, modern therapeutics can allow those affected to lead normal lives, if the disease is detected early enough. A healthy lifestyle supports the success of the therapy – also because it strengthens the immune system.
The defense mechanisms
The immune system is a sophisticated system in which different defense cells and messenger substances protect the body from pathogens. Viruses, bacteria and parasites are recognized and combated.
The innate or non-specific immune system is at the forefront. It protects the body regardless of what kind of pathogen it is. The non-specific immune defense includes, among other things, the skin, the mucous membranes, the gastric acid and the phagocytes in the blood.
Some intruders still escape her. Then the specific defenses that our body acquires over the course of a lifetime become active. It recognizes certain pathogens and uses the appropriate antibodies against them in a targeted manner.
Measures for a strong immune system
Whether rheumatism or not, there are three important building blocks that make the immune system strong.
- Balanced diet: lots of vegetables and fruit, whole grain products, milk and dairy products every day, vegetable oils. Rarely meat, but sea fish twice a week. These are foods that, according to the German Society for Nutrition (DGE), form a wholesome diet[1]. This means that the body usually has enough nutrients, vitamins, antioxidants and trace elements available.
- Regular exercise: Exercise gets the parts of the innate immune system going and encourages the body to produce more antibodies. Exercise also improves blood circulation and stimulates the metabolism.
- Relaxation: Constant stress is poison for your health. The number of immune cells decreases, the defense system against pathogens works less well. What helps are regular, conscious phases of relaxation. They turn out differently from person to person. While some people benefit from techniques such as meditation and progressive muscle relaxation, for others, just going for a walk in the fresh air is enough.
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