How your white blood cells impact your immune system and things you can do to give yourself a boost
Amid a global pandemic, there are more and more people who are wanting to learn about the topic of the immune system as well as things they can do that will aid with boosting their system as well as keep it strong. For those who are in this position, one of the first things that should be understood is what white blood cells are and the impact that they make on one’s health. It can sometimes be beneficial for people to think of these cells as immunity cells as they flow through the blood stream to fight anything that may threaten the body.
These threats can include things such as viruses, bacteria, as well as other foreign invaders that may pose a threat. When white blood cells are at a normal level, the body will be able to fight off attackers adequately but when the levels are depleted, this will open the body up to be at risk of some very serious issues such as auto-immune conditions and even cancer. Be this as it may, this article will take a closer look at the subject of white blood cells and the immune system as well as some effective things that you can do to give yourself a boost.
Why white blood cells are so important to your body and your health
Even though white blood cells only make up 1% of your blood (with the rest made up of red blood cells, platelets, and plasma) they do make a huge impact on the body. There are five different types of white blood cells and each type oversees certain areas related to protecting the body.
- Monocytes have the longest lifespan out of all the cells and aid with warding off bacteria.
- Lymphocytes create antibodies which help with fighting off attackers, and
- Neutrophils will kill off and digest bacteria and fungi.
- Basophils secrete histamine and are in charge of sounding the alarm when invaders find their way into the blood.
- Eosinophils attack and kill parasites as well as cancer cells.
All of these cells work together in order to keep the body healthy; however, people can begin to experience issues when their body is not replenishing these cells as fast as they are being destroyed.
Using an infrared sauna as a tool to boost your immunity
Throughout the years, people have tried all sorts of things to not only increase white blood cells in the body but to also strengthen one’s immune system. One strategy that has shown promise is the use of an infrared sauna as one study has found that males who used a sauna for fifteen minutes followed by a cool down experienced an increase in white blood cells. This increase was more predominant in athletes than it was in non-athletes, perhaps suggesting that a mixture of exercise as well as regular sauna usage could do wonders for the immune system.
Others suggest that harmful bacteria and substances are brought to the surface of the body as circulation is increased during sauna bathing thus allowing these harmful substances to be pumped through and out of the skin. It is also important to know that sauna bathing can be helpful when it comes to detoxification which again allows the body to get rid of nasties through sweat. As can be seen, there are many different ways that using a sauna regularly may be able to contribute to a strengthened immune system.
How cryotherapy may be able to aid with increasing white blood cell count
While some research out there has found that sauna bathing may potentially aid with increasing white blood cell count, there are also studies that have possibly found that cryotherapy may also be able to assist with this. One study found that after completing ten sessions of cryotherapy, healthy male participants experienced a significant increase in their white blood cell count. This increase was also shown to be more predominant after the tenth session, thus showing that repeated sessions may be the best approach when it comes to boosting the immune system.
As both types of therapies have shown changes in white blood cell levels, it may also be beneficial for people to implement both hot and cold therapy into their lives. In conclusion, further research across more diverse participant groups needs to be conducted to make conclusive assumptions about these types of therapies and their impact on the immune system. Having said this, the research is very promising and as there are little to no side effects to these kinds of therapies, it seems that it is something worthwhile for people to try when they are looking to give themselves a boost, especially throughout such worrisome times.
To book in for these treatments give Cryospa Clinics a call on 8964 7951
