Whether it's working to ward off the common cold or battling a serious condition, the immune system is a powerful network that sustains and protects us during all stages of our lives. This special edition of Health delves into this system, including science-backed answers to questions about the immune system and how it works, the secret life of germs, invisible illnesses, a flu vaccine primer, and our list of the best immune-boosting foods. Also included is a primer on Covid-19; what we’ve learned and what’s on the horizon.
HEALTH IMMUNITY: PROTECT YOURSELF
MIGHTY IMMUNITY • In the age of COVID-19, as in any age, your immune systemkeeps you healthy in a variety of ways. When a virus enters the body, this complex network gets to work.
FIRST LINE OF DEFENSE OPENER • The immune system is a vast network that does much more than prevent the common cold.
THE SOCIAL CONNECTION • Human interaction sustains us not only emotionally but physically as well. Whether in person or through screen time, being in touch with friends and loved ones can help boost your immune system.
THE SECRET LIFE OF GERMS • Beyond coronavirus, a single nanoscopic pathogen can have your entire household laid up in bed (or near the bathroom) for weeks. Here’s how to outsmart the little buggers.
PETS AND THE IMMUNE SYSTEM • Having a four-legged companion in the house, especially from a young age, can help boost a person’s immune system in unexpected ways.
THE POWER OF STRESS AND THE MIND • A leading immunologist explains how the immune system is affected by stress and how mindfulness practices can help mitigate the impact of anxiousness on the body.
HOW DOCTORS DO IT: FIGHTING GERMS AND STAYING HEALTHY • It’s their job to get up close and personal with people’s germs. Here, doctors explain how they protect others against illness without getting sick themselves. News that anyone can use.
LEARNING FROM THE CORONAVIRUS OPENER • The pandemic has brought up new questions about immunity.
COVID QUESTIONS ANSWERED • The coronavirus pandemic still has a lot of unknowns. Here are answers to some of the pressing questions surrounding the disease.
STORM WARNING • How a virus can kill by turning your immune system against you.
UNDER THE WEATHER OPENER • Many illnesses, such as the cold and flu, reach us all. Here’s how to manage.
I DO EVERYTHING RIGHT, SO WHY DO I KEEP GETTING SICK? • It could be genetics. It could be the environment you grew up in. But there’s plenty you can do to help your immune system function at its best.
DECODING THE COUGH • What is your immune system telling you when you start to hack? When to worry and when not to.
WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO HAVE AN INVISIBLE ILLNESS? • People can’t “see” fibromyalgia, Crohn’s disease, or an autoimmune illness like lupus, but these and other chronic conditions can turn a normal life upside down, with even the simplest of tasks posing a challenge.
MY IMMUNE SYSTEM ATTACKED MY HAIR • Alopecia left a 20-something with bald patches on her head and fear that the condition would spread.
WHAT EXACTLY IS CANCER IMMUNOTHERAPY? • These medicines harness the body’s immune system to combat certain cancers.
PROTECT YOURSELF OPENER • Straightforward ways to build your body’s defense system
SLEEP IT OFF • Your mother was right: A good night’s sleep is a key part in keeping your immune system working and helping you recover from sickness faster.
HOW EFFECTIVE IS THE FLU SHOT? • Here’s what doctors want you to know about the vaccine. Yes, you still need to get it.
VACCINES: MYTHS AND FACTS • Vaccines for children and adults have led to controversy in recent years. What side effects might the shots cause? Is it OK for certain groups to skip them...