Why do we often get sick?

Do you think stress has an effect on the immune system? Try to answer from your own experience, and you'll realize you don't know the exact answer.

The fact is that the immune system has no way of "contacting" us and reporting problems like other organs do. For example, when the cardiovascular system fails to cope, a person's blood pressure spikes or the heart rate increases. And we only become aware of a weakened immune system when we are already sick. You may not even realize that frequent colds or slow healing wounds and scratches are also consequences of stress.

The connection between stress and immunity

It's important to understand that stress is not just a word, but a specific state of the body, and far from normal.

During stress, the hormones cortisol and adrenaline spike in blood. They begin activating the systems that are responsible for reacting to danger. Nerves are strained to the limit and ready to pick up any signal for action in order to pass it on to muscles and heart. Then muscles adjust themselves to move actively at any moment: to fight or to run. All the resources of the body are directed only to them.

At the same time, adrenaline and cortisol turn off less important life-saving functions. One of them is the immune system. Yes, when stress lasts a few hours, nothing bad will happen. But when we're talking about chronic stress, the consequences will be most dire, any infection, whether it's seasonal flu or COVID-19, will easily get in without meeting resistance.

In the past, a human stressor was an encounter with a predator, a severe cold, a fire, today the threats are less material in nature. Constant anxiety, which can be caused by a pandemic, fear of the future, reduced income, increased work pressure, an unstable and unpredictable life, etc.. All of these reasons cause chronic stress. And consequently, the risk of getting sick.

If you don't like such prospects, this is where specialized vitamins to boost immunity for stress can help.

How to choose vitamins to improve immunity under stress?

It is generally accepted that the following antioxidant vitamins are needed to strengthen the body: A, E and C. Yes, but they are only needed for the immune response. However, if you consume them under constant stress, it's the same as putting a Band-Aid on an open fracture, the benefits are completely absent.

For a really good immune response to chronic stress, you first need to eliminate excess cortisol and adrenaline, deal with overstress and exhaustion, and get your nervous system in order. Otherwise the immune system will not be able to start its work.

In order for the body to cope with stress, it needs lithium, vitamins B6 and B1. Let's talk about them in more detail.

Lithium

This trace element is little known today as a food supplement, although it has long been used by official medicine. Taking it to strengthen the immune system during times of stress will have a double effect.

Firstly, lithium really calms the nervous system and evens out the mood. It gradually reduces the production of cortisol and adrenaline, thereby giving the body a signal that all is well and you can go back to normal. Lowering adrenaline levels "turns on" the immune system. In addition, lithium helps increase the production of serotonin, a hormone that suppresses stress and provides adequate rest and sleep. And it is these that allow you to gain strength, eliminate the effects of stress and restore the body's resources.

Secondly, lithium is directly involved in the immune system. It gently stimulates an increase in the number of immune cells in the blood — neutrophils. They are part of the innate immunity and are engaged in absorption of foreign agents. It is neutrophils, the most mobile and active of the white blood cells, that can penetrate all organs and tissues, destroying infectious agents. Lithium also has anti-inflammatory properties. Therefore, it can be attributed to drugs to enhance immunity.

Anti-stress vitamins B6 and B1

Vitamin B6 (pyridoxine) is called "fuel of stress", because it’s rapidly used up in large quantities, precisely during the mobilization of energy. Vitamin B6 is responsible for an adequate response to stimuli and inhibition of the nervous system. With a lack of vitamin B6 dramatically worsens mood and at the same time increases irascibility, psychosis and depression can develop. In addition, vitamin B6 is involved in the synthesis of serotonin and is essential for normalization of sleep and mood recovery.

Vitamin B1 (thiamine) is used to supply nerve cells with energy. It is clear that during stress its reserves are quickly depleted. Hence the symptoms of vitamin B1 deficiency such as constant fatigue, inability to rest when sleeping, increased fatigue with little effort, insomnia. Another function of vitamin B1 is to protect neurons (nerve tissue cells) from damage by harmful products of metabolism. Therefore, if there is a lack of vitamin B1, the nerves really "deteriorate".

Taking vitamins B6 and B1 helps to literally restore the nervous system.

To make it easier for yourself to strengthen the immune system during stress, pay attention to the complex "Normotim". It includes lithium and vitamins B6, B1 and vitamin C. Taking "Normotim" will help to cope with stress, regenerate the nervous system and as a result the immune system can return to work actively and resist infections.

Take care of your immune system so it can take care of you!