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When going through a health condition that is related to the immune system, you must think about the best approach that can help you deal with the issue easily. If you are searching for a holistic approach that does not include excessive medicines, injections, etc., you can try immunotherapy. According to Dr. Kanury Rao – a researcher, scholar, and immunologist – immunotherapy is the process or treatment method that is used to treat diseases associated with the immune system. These include allergies, auto-immune diseases, asthma, and even certain cancers. While availing of this treatment, you will need to do some additional things that can boost your immunity simultaneously.
To find out more about the ways to boost your immune system or immunity during immunotherapy, just explore this post.
Tips to boost immunity during immunotherapy
If you are utilizing immunotherapy or you are planning to kick-start with this treatment, you will need to try a few things so that the treatment can be used to manage your symptoms and enhance its effectiveness.
In case you are puzzled that this approach can zap the natural defense of your body, you do not have to be worried about anything. We are saying this because it will activate the body’s natural ability so that it can help you fight foreign cells.
However, certain reasons are still there that can make your immunity weak even after or during the treatment. One of the major reasons for this is that most people go for immunotherapy after going through other treatments such as radiation and chemotherapy. Since these treatments can lower the responses of your immune system, you will need to do the following to strengthen it:
Sleep well
According to Kanury Rao, anyone who is using immunotherapy should aim for at least 7-8 hours of sleep. However, it may be less sometimes as different reasons will be there for the same but it can strain the entire system. This means you will tend to get sick often from flu, colds, and other common allergies. Many times, you may also get into serious infections and find it difficult to recover from them.
Some people with any health condition find it hard to fall asleep quickly and easily. Hence, they can try the following to sleep well:
Try to sleep and wake up daily at the same time.
Never go to bed when too full or hungry.
Keep the bedroom quiet, dark, well-ventilated.
Ensure the right or moderate temperature in the room.
Opt for some bedtime rituals such as journaling, bathing, etc.
Eat well and smart
When you have an ongoing treatment in the form of immunotherapy, you will be advised to eat healthy but smart. You will need to add sufficient protein, minerals, vitamins, etc. to your diet in the form of veggies, fruits, and supplements. In case you do not know what to add and what to subtract, you can consult a good dietician.
Keep in mind that the objective of the right diet is to provide your body and the immune system a complete support. Some people report that they do not feel hungry when immunotherapy is taking place. Dr. Kanury Rao and other prominent immunologists usually suggest their clients have small portions of healthy and balanced food even if they feel like eating anything.
In addition to this, you should try to eat smart. Eating smart simply means eating the right. For instance, you should not consume any tablet or supplement that claims – immune support. This is because they can adversely affect health and treatment too. Lastly, it is always better to consult a dietician and your immunologist for the right diet.
Be active
Whether you have an auto-immune disease or not, exercise and other physical activities are the key to stay fit and keep the immune system healthy. The best thing is that people with a few types of cancers can also do light exercises to stay fit and active. However, you must speak to your physician before opting for anything.
Exercising and staying active is undeniably good but you should also know the situations when you should not do anything except to do rest. Below are the conditions when exercising is not a great idea:
Ataxia (a condition where muscles’ coordination becomes poor)
Low count of white blood cells
Excessive fatigue
Anemia or low count of red blood cells
Control and manage stress
When you are going through a serious condition such as cancer, stress is pretty common. However, you should try to manage it as stress can flood the body with harmful chemicals. Since these can have adverse effects on the immune system, you may also start experiencing issues associated with the digestive system.
In case you are looking for ways to manage stress, you can do the following:
Healthy lifestyle
Get enough sleep
Eat good and healthy food
Soft tissue manipulation
Deep breathing or breathing exercises
Meditation and light yoga
Reading good books
Listening to soothing music
Consulting a good mental health expert
Final Takeaways
When the immune system is affected, you should try to stay away from the crowded place or even if you are going, wear a good quality mask. Besides, Dr. Kanury Rao suggests people wash their hands before and after preparing food, keep the temperature of the fridge around 40 Fahrenheit, wash everything i.e. veggies and fruits before eating, and avoid sprouts, and junk foods. In case of a doubt, one must immediately contact their physician or immunologist.
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