What Happens to Your Body When Exposed to Viruses and Toxins

When you aren’t feeling well, it’s easy to feel like your body is shutting down on you. It’s quite the opposite. When you are sick, your body is actively fighting for you to be healthy again, in a fascinating array of autoimmune responses. If you are looking to get better quickly, looking at how you can help your body’s natural system fight off viruses is a great way to start.

What Happens When I Feel Sick?

Most illnesses are obtained virally. They often become attached to the nasal passages or throat, which gives them initial access to your immune system. Once they enter, they try to replicate as much as possible to take over. Your body recognizes an invader and kicks into high gear. The body works to fight off the virus, the root cause of many of our symptoms.

How Your Body Reacts

When your body notices a virus has gotten into the system, your immune system starts sending signals to other parts of the brain and body through cytokines. These cells tell other molecules to move to infection or inflamed areas and serve as the conductor of communication in the body. They release proteins that give messages to other cells. As a result of these cytokines, the blood vessels in our body will get larger to let white blood cells attack the virus.

What Do Symptoms Mean?

The typical symptoms of a cold are a stuffy nose, coughing, fever, and aches. These are all ways our body works to rid itself of an intruder. See the below symptom list for details on what your body is doing that makes these symptoms so prevalent.

• Fever

When your body has a fever, it is trying to kill the virus or bacteria that has entered your system. Usually, your body’s natural temperature allows them to replicate easier, so your body changes the temperature in an effort to kill them off.

• Stuffy Nose or Congestion

When the blood vessels get larger to make room for our white blood cells, we often feel a stuffy nose as a result. Your immune system ramps up the amount of histamine your body produces, increasing the amount of fluid and congestion you feel. When you sneeze or blow your nose, your body is trying to rid itself of the invaders. It also is your body’s way of getting rid of extra blood cells.

• Inflammation and Aches

The white blood cells can cause inflammation, as they release chemicals intended to rid your body of the virus. When you ache and are uncomfortable, your immune system is the cause, not the virus itself. The protein that our antibodies create is working on getting rid of the intruder, which causes the pain you may be feeling.

• Coughing

When we are sick with the cold or flu, our body produces more mucus. This can cause fluids to drain down the back of the throat, causing us to cough. The inflammatory response from our body produces chemicals (called bradykinin) that may also contribute to coughing fits.

What You Can Do

While we can’t prevent colds or bacteria from ever entering our bodies, we can take certain measures to boost our immune system to support its defense mechanisms. Having a healthy lifestyle can help prevent illness. Some great things to incorporate into your daily routine if you don’t do so already include eating a diet with many fruits and vegetables, exercising regularly, getting enough sleep, washing your hands often, and avoiding smoking or drinking. Other proactive things you can do during flu season are:

• Manage your stress levels

Stress can promote inflammation and imbalances in the body, leading to imbalances in our cells, making us more receptive to illness. Try to journal, practice yoga, or engage in creative activities to help stress reduction.

• Use supplements

Vitamins and supplements can help your immune system buckle up for flu season. Vitamin C, D, Zinc, and Elderberry are all known to have properties that can reduce cold duration or aid in symptoms.

• Drink water

Water helps our body flush out unwanted toxins. It can be difficult to get the right amount, but keeping track of how much you drink in a day can be helpful. Keep a water bottle by your side, and if necessary, use hydration packets to keep your body functioning and filtering.

If you are looking for a quick and easy way to get hydrated and supplements into your body, Drip Hydration offers IV treatments that can be scheduled in-home or at your nearest location. Our specifically formulated treatments can help you recover from illness or give your immune system a quick boost. Contact us today to begin your treatments and give your body some extra care.

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