Dr. Tankevičius urges not to believe the following advice on protection against COVID-19: It will not help, or perhaps harm

However, this advice is not entirely correct. LSMU Kaunas Clinics Doctor of Sports Medicine dr. Gediminas Tankevičius explained why.

You will not develop specific immunity to vitamin D or C.

In particular, it is very important to distinguish specific, that is, targeting a specific infectious disease, e.g. chickenpox, hepatitis B, whooping cough or the like, and non-specific immunity. Nonspecific immunity is the general resistance of the body, as if it were a barrier or filter that prevents or neutralizes the entry of pathogens into the body, and the resistance of the body to infectious agents or mutated cells in the body. And a specific one is formed only when a person is vaccinated or infected with a specific disease and antibodies are formed, which intentionally neutralize the specific agent or its toxins.

For example, if we get vaccinated against chickenpox or become naturally ill, we have acquired specific immunity to the disease.

“Now common things like hardening, a balanced diet, sleep, are often cited as a specific remedy for coronavirus. This can and should be described as a general means of strengthening the body, but not as a goal. Let’s not start with a specific exercise or hardening technique directed against coronavirus. These are measures to strengthen the body, as well as the general immune system, but not specific protection against the coronavirus, the doctor said.

– In those “recipes”, replace the COVID-19 virus in your mind with something else, such as HIV, tick-borne encephalitis, chickenpox, hepatitis B, C or similar. Then it will be easier to understand that contact prevention or specific immunoprophylaxis, if possible, is paramount for the prevention of such diseases without general immunity. Combining these two types of immunity into one distorts reality, undermines caution, exaggerates some people’s over-reliance on general immunity alone, and undermines and criticizes specific preventive measures, although the two groups should work together effectively and produce optimal results. “

The doctor also mentions why it is irresponsible to share general advice on how much and what vitamin to take (if any) to strengthen immunity. According to dr. G. Tankevičius, an elderly person, a young person, a person with a vitamin deficiency or a person whose body has too many vitamins will have a completely different need. And complete nutrition will not be that need at all. Therefore, it would not be worth sharing general vitamin advice to everyone “at once”.

“It is irresponsible to do this, there is no one-size-fits-all recipe. Damage can also be caused in this way, and this possibility should at least be mentioned, the doctor warned.

– Additionally, we are aware that coronavirus infection is more dangerous for older people, including younger people with chronic or congenital health problems. In such cases, the impact of vitamin prophylaxis is even less and the emphasis on prevention should shift elsewhere. “

In addition, according to the interlocutor, after such advice, one may think that neither masks nor distances are needed, because there is no risk of contagion.

And healthy people are not protected

Also, it is often thought that people who eat a healthy diet and actively exercise are not at risk for good immunity. However, that’s not true.

“There is no absolute immunity. Immunity is an inert variable property. Eg athletes are more vulnerable after hard training than before. Or the throat barrier function of a healthy person may be momentarily weakened after drinking water cold or frozen feet. The gates of infection can even occur in the eye. If, say, a sweaty athlete rubs his eye, irritates the mucous membranes, the eyes are red, those mucous membranes can be a gateway for enter the same coronavirus, if, for example, a person has been in an environment where the virus could have entered the hand. It cannot be said that healthy people do not become infected. Yes, they get sick, in many cases, with greater ease, but the risk of complications is always and unwise to play such a lottery, “explained Dr. G. Tankevičius.

Of course, non-specific (general) immunity is very important and each person’s goal is to nurture it, but different viruses and bacteria have different infectivity and danger. Some are very easy for the body to protect, while others, for example the coronavirus, are more difficult to protect. This virus, according to the doctor, is more “sticky” and lasts longer.

“It is very important to exercise, exercise and eat right. But we cannot say it is ‘against covidium.’ This is unethical care seeking and does not guarantee that you will not get sick. We can only talk about risk reduction, not about some kind of protection. The stronger the immunity, the lower the risk. But in addition to nonspecific immunity, to reduce the risk of contagion, we also need responsible behavior: masks, hand hygiene, keeping our distance “, repeats the interlocutor .

The doctor remembers the main most important factors that strengthen nonspecific immunity: balanced diet, adequate and tireless exercise and good rest, positive emotions, stress management.

“And consuming milligrams of vitamins or selling them as if they are protecting against coronavirus is unfair and unfair,” he said. G. Tankevičius.