Don’t be complacent, focus on boosting immunity, immunologist warns

Dr Vyakaranam Nageshwar advises strengthening immunity to fight Covid-19 and avoid long-term effects. He recommends a mix of allopathy and Ayurveda, including vitamins, warm water, herbal remedies, and pranayama

Hyderabad: It is better to be prepared by taking precautions such as strengthening immunity, than to get infected with Covid. While one should not panic due to the present situation, it does not mean that they should not worry. Once an individual gets infected by Covid, unlike other viral infections, SARS-CoV-2 tends to linger in the human body, triggering long Covid symptoms, which is not good for overall health.

Dr Vyakaranam Nageshwar, a Hyderabad-based immunologist who has already treated 4 to 5 Covid infections in the last week, says the spike protein that comes with the Covid-19 infection lingers in the body for an extended period of time, despite the patient recovering.

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“Spike protein is already there in the body due to natural Covid infection during earlier pandemic waves. These spike proteins aren’t necessarily a full, replicating virus, but fragments or antigens. This is where a healthy immunity helps. A robust immunity keeps these remnants/ antigens in check,” he said. One should not be careless just because recovery is quick and symptoms are not severe, he said, adding that focusing on immunity is vital.

“We are not sure what trajectory the present rash of Covid infections will take us. I urge people not to take the present surge lightly. They should take basic precautions and focus on immunity,” Dr Vyakaranam reiterates.

How to improve immunity?

There are multiple ways, such as traditional Indian medicine and allopathy, to improve the body’s immunity. ‘An ideal balance between the two is preferable. I urge families to focus on their Vitamin D3, C, Zinc and Magnesium levels, in addition to traditional Indian approaches to improve immunity. Better to get tested for multivitamin levels in the body, because they are vital for immunity,” he adds.

Tips to improve immunity 

• Take warm water throughout the day

• Pranayama and meditation for at least 30 minutes

• Gargling warm water with a pinch of turmeric and salt

• Include Haldi, Jeera, Dhaniya and Lahsun in cooking

Ayurvedic immunity improving measures

• Take 1 tablespoon of Chavanprash in the morning

• Diabetics should consume sugarless Chavanprash

• Drink herbal tea from Tulsi, Dalchini, Kalimirch, Shunthi and Munakka once or twice a day.

• Add jaggery or fresh lemon juice in place of processed sugar

• Golden milk, i.e., half a teaspoon of Haldi in 150 ml of hot milk once or twice a day