So, you and a family member get exposed to people coughing and sneezing in a small    room. Within a couple of days you come down with a bad cold — you blame it on being stuck in the same room with THOSE people.

Yet your family member, exposed to the same germs at the same time,  remains perfectly healthy. Why is that?

Having a  immune system that is week or strong, makes the difference between who gets sick and who doesn’t. The one with the immune system functioning below normal has an increased risk of getting sick.

Is there any thing we can do to help boost our immune system? Doctors say yes, and what we do or don’t do in our life each day can dramatically make a difference.

Fighting Off Sickness…..

Your body has the ability to manufacture antibodies that attack  the infectious particle,  allowing your body to destroy it. This, not only affects your ability to fend off the common cold, the flu, or a stomach virus, but it can also play a role in protecting you against cancer or even heart disease.

We also have a second protective response known as the “cell-mediated immune system.” This immunity involves immune system cells, which are “helper” or “killer” cells. The cells help our body create memory of past protection against diseases. Your body can recognize it again, and immediately call up the memory of that previous infection and sets out to destroy it before the disease develops.

How Our Immunity Can Be Affected…..

Much like a boxer in a fight, your immune cells can also lose some of their protective effects when your body is constantly fighting poor health habits. A change in our lifestyle habits which in turn will help keep our immune system at peek performance.

Reducing STRESS is key. There is overwhelming evidence that stress drastically affects the health of our body.  The good news is that lowering your stress can help your body maintain both your physical and your emotional health. It’s simple,  lower your stress level and you’ll live a healthier life.

Sleep, Working Out, and Sex…..

Not necessarily in that order, lol.  But sleep IS a big deal. Experts say we need seven to eight hours of sleep each night, especially during cold and flu season.

Moderate exercise, like a brisk 30-minute walk three or four times a week,  has been shown to increase your immunity to disease. Just don’t over do it during cold and flu season. Pay attention to your body!

If you can not sleep or workout, have sex. They say that happy little brain chemicals produced during sex or even during frequent physical touching, such as hugs and handshakes, can boost your immunity.

Your Music And Immunity….

Programming your IPOD with your favorite tunes and listening often. Studies have shown that listening to music 30 minutes a day increase those happy chemicals as well.

While doing all these things we must still not forget what our mothers have told us. “Wash your hands!” Nothing beats frequent hand washing to help in being healthy.

The more we can help our bodies fight off the normal day to day cold and flu, the better equipped our bodies will be in fighting off  catastrophic diseases.