How to boost immunity: what to do and home remedies

Cigarettes contain nicotine, which is a substance having immunosuppressive actions, that is, it reduces the activity of the immune system, making you more prone to diseases and infections. This occurs due to epithelial injury breaking your epithelial immune response.

Smoking is commonly related to an increased risk of upper respiratory tract infections. It has also been recognised to be a significant risk factor for the development of lung cancer, especially in men. Cancer is further known to be immunosuppressive, affecting the immunity of the individual and increasing the likelihood of infections in them.

(Read more: How to quit smoking)

Physical activity and exercise are closely linked, as evidenced by the fact that physically active individuals and those with a better lifestyle are less likely to be diseased. But, what mechanisms protect them from illnesses?

Research evidence has demonstrated that an increase in the levels of physical activity or exercise facilitates an increased level of circulating antibodies and WBCs, which serve a protective function in your body. It helps in the early recognition of infectious agents and a better immune function.

Moreover, physical activity momentarily raises body temperatures, which may be unfavorable to the growth of microorganisms, reducing the chances of infection. Intense physical activities may also allow your body to flush out bacteria through your airways and lungs, reducing the likelihood of respiratory infections and other illnesses. Another theory suggests that exercise helps in reducing the levels of cortisol, or the stress hormone, which is closely linked with compromised immune functioning.

Here is how you can incorporate physical activities in your daily routine to boost your immune functioning:

• A 30-minute brisk walk or run
• Bicycling or trekking
• Playing with kids or pets
• Practicing training sessions at the gym, with the help of an instructor
• Aerobics or Zumba
• Dancing
• Yoga
• Walking to shorter distances and always using the staircase instead of an elevator

These exercises may be helpful in boosting the immunity of healthy individuals. If you are immunocompromised or suffer from any chronic illnesses or an infection, you are recommended to seek your physician’s consultation before indulging in any form of physical activity. Intense physical workouts or rigorous training must be avoided at all times, since the results may be counterintuitive.

Stress is likely to cause immune dysfunction, which varies according to the type of stressor (agent causing stress) and the duration of exposure. This may increase the likelihood of developing chronic diseases in some individuals. So, managing your stress with the help of meditation, relaxation and yoga may help regulate your immune function.

(Read more: Home remedies for stress)

The benefits of adequate nocturnal sleep have been known in aiding better body functions and reducing fatigue. Research evidence further suggests its relation with immune function. Proper sleep is beneficial in enabling immune memory, which is responsible for appropriate immune action on repeated exposure to a particular pathogen, incurring immunity against it. Prolonged reduction in sleep and dysregulation in the circadian rhythm (biological clocks responsible for sleep) may result in immunodeficiency. So, it is recommended to take 7 to 10 hours of sleep to optimise immune function.

(Read more: Insomnia treatment)

Yoga has been practiced since ancient times in India, due to its benefits on various body functions. It is known to regulate digestion, respiration, posture and is a potent stress buster. Stress, which has been recognized to reduce immune functions, can be easily managed by simple yoga techniques like anulom vilom, when practiced daily. Anulom vilom is a simple alternate nostril breathing technique, which is responsible for the flow of energy or prana in the body. Stress reduction achieved by this technique may help in improving immune functions in healthy individuals.

If you regularly drink a lot of alcohol every day, it can weaken your immune system and your risk of falling ill increases manifold. Alcohol upsets the balance between good bacteria and bad bacteria in your gut and increases the risk of liver inflammation. Not only this but drinking too much alcohol also weakens your body's ability to fight viral and bacterial infections. In addition, excessive consumption of alcohol also increases the risk of pneumonia and other lung diseases.