Infection and Immunity
With the cooling of the weather and the opening of schools, respiratory tract infections, among others, have started to occur more frequently. Since the diagnosis of COVID-19, measures to keep transmission at the lowest level have been implemented, yet emergency rooms are filled with patients exhibiting symptoms such as fever and cough. Why are so many people getting sick? Why do some individuals rarely get sick while others fall ill often enough to disrupt their daily lives? Individual differences in the immune system are crucial at this point, yet often overlooked or ignored.
First, let’s clarify the terms mutation and variant. A mutation refers to a random change in genetic material. All living beings instinctively seek to ensure the survival of their species. Organisms that reproduce sexually give birth to offspring with completely different genes formed by the combination of chromosomes from both mother and father. As environmental conditions change, those who can adapt to the new environment—those who are adaptable, not necessarily the strongest—survive, ensuring the continuation of the species. Asexually reproducing organisms like bacteria and viruses change their genetic material through mutation to create new variants that can adapt to their environment. Here, the goal of the bacteria or virus is not to kill the host, but rather to ensure the continuation of its own species.
So, why do some infections become more lethal for certain people? Why did some individuals remain unaffected during the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic, while we lost thousands of others?
The main cause of deaths is dysfunction of the immune system, meaning it is not working correctly. This dysfunction is observed in patients undergoing cancer chemotherapy, those who have had organ transplants, or those using immunosuppressive drugs for autoimmune/rheumatic diseases, resulting in a reduced immune response. These individuals are aware that they are more susceptible to infections and take greater precautions to prevent transmission. However, dysfunction often manifests as an excessive immune response that also harms the body. Imagine a scenario where terrorists and soldiers are in armed conflict in the middle of a city, and the soldiers have powerful weapons. If the soldier is ordered to eliminate the enemy at all costs, it is inevitable that nearby houses, vehicles, and buildings will also suffer damage. This is exactly what we refer to as a cytokine storm. During the COVID-19 pandemic, we lost many patients due to the cytokine storms they entered. When we can keep our immune system at an optimal level, even if we encounter an infection source, our immunity can overcome it, allowing us to continue our lives without getting sick. This not only benefits the individual but also contributes to societal well-being by disrupting transmission.
So, how can we individually improve our immunity and maintain it at an optimal level?
Proper Nutrition: Whether for infections or chronic diseases, the first step should always be to improve nutrition. Not eating enough vegetables leads to the loss of probiotic bacteria that act as a protective shield, while consuming excessive amounts of ready-made, packaged, refined, processed, and high-carbohydrate foods facilitates the growth of pathogenic (harmful) bacteria, viruses, and fungi. According to TÜİK data, the proportion of people consuming vegetables at least once a day was 69.4% in 2010, but it dropped to 41.2% in 2022. This situation not only makes it harder to combat infections but also paves the way for chronic diseases.
Adequate Sleep: At least 8 hours of sleep is necessary for proper detox phases to function.
Exercise: Regular exercise increases muscle tissue, speeds up metabolism, prevents fat accumulation in the liver and other internal organs, promotes the production of new nerve cells in the brain, prevents waste accumulation in cells, stimulates the production of NAD necessary for energy production in mitochondria, and helps maintain the proper functioning of our cells' energy factories (mitochondria), making it easier to combat chronic diseases and infections.
Avoiding Unnecessary Antibiotic Use: The most common infections in society are upper respiratory infections. Over 90% in adults and more than 70% in children are viral. Antibiotics kill only bacteria. When you use antibiotics during a viral infection, you may kill the probiotic bacteria that protect your body by covering all surfaces exposed to the outside world (skin, digestive system, inner surfaces of genital organs) like a shield. When there are gaps in your protective shield, encountering pathogenic bacteria, viruses, and fungi again makes it easier for them to make you sick. Once you get sick again, you take antibiotics, and then get a new infection—it's a vicious cycle.
Maintaining Omega-3 / Omega-6 Balance: Omega-3 fatty acids have anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, pain-relieving, and cancer-protective effects, while Omega-6 fatty acids are inflammatory (increase inflammation), oxidative (cause cells to rust and become dysfunctional), increase pain, and pave the way for chronic symptoms like cancer, diabetes, Alzheimer’s, and hypertension. Active Omega-3 fatty acids are found in wild-caught fish, grass-fed animal meat and dairy products, and free-range chicken and eggs, while Omega-6 fatty acids are found in oils from seeds like sunflower, canola, corn, and cottonseed, as well as in the meat and dairy of grain-fed animals and chickens. The optimal ratio of Omega-3 to Omega-6 is 1:2, but currently, both insufficient Omega-3 intake and excessive Omega-6 consumption have raised this ratio to as high as 1:50. Omega-6 fatty acids initiate inflammation when we encounter an infection, which is a normal response. Omega-3 fatty acids terminate inflammation where it is no longer needed. When there is too much Omega-6 and too little Omega-3, inflammation cannot be controlled, leading to a more severe and prolonged immune response.
Getting Enough Vitamin D: When vitamin D was first discovered, it was thought to be only related to bone health. Recent studies have proven that it is essential for proper immune function, controlling chronic diseases, and preventing cancer. Taking adequate doses of vitamin D during winter months is extremely important for preventing infections and fighting existing infections.
Adequate Infrared Light Exposure: 50% of sunlight consists of infrared rays. Infrared increases detox capacity, prevents osteoporosis, and protects the body against chronic diseases and infections. Reduced sunlight exposure during winter months facilitates the emergence of infections.
Getting Enough Vitamin C: Vitamin C enters cells using the same pathway as sugar, and sugar tends to enter cells more quickly than vitamin C. Therefore, the idea that eating fruit is sufficient for vitamin C intake is not correct. Vitamin C is the most powerful antioxidant in the bloodstream. A deficiency increases the risk of frequent infections, leads to early signs of aging in the skin due to its role in collagen structure, and weakens bone tissue, causing osteoporosis. Particularly in winter, sufficient vitamin C intake is extremely important for preventing infections.
Keeping Glutathione Levels High: Glutathione is the most important intracellular antioxidant. It prevents the accumulation of toxic waste inside cells, removes free oxygen radicals, and supports sufficient energy production in mitochondria. When glutathione levels drop, the risk of developing chronic diseases, cancer, and susceptibility to infections increases.
Medical Detox: Besides glutathione, there are many micronutrients such as alpha-lipoic acid, NAD, choline, vitamin E, and B vitamins that can increase our antioxidant capacity both inside and outside the cells. In case of deficiencies, detox mechanisms will function inadequately, making it easier to catch infections. Replenishing the lacking micronutrient is crucial in the fight against infections.
Avoiding Tobacco and Alcohol: Tobacco increases our chemical burden, while alcohol is directly toxic to liver cells, leading to direct death of liver cells and liver fat accumulation. In both cases, free oxygen radicals cannot be eliminated from the body, making it harder to fight infections.
What Are We Doing in Our Clinic?
First and foremost, we aim to identify the root cause of the problem through detailed examination.
We conduct a full-body scan using the biorezonance method to detect accumulated toxins and missing vitamins and micronutrients.
We support medical detox by providing intravenous (IV) supplementation of missing micronutrients like glutathione, vitamin C, alpha-lipoic acid, B vitamins, choline, NAD, and ginkgo biloba.
We assist in the final phase of detox, which is elimination, through aesthetic treatments like ozone sauna and undulation, enabling you to combat chronic diseases and infections while preventing early signs of aging.
Whether it’s an infection, chronic diseases, or preventing aging, the sooner preventive measures are taken, the higher the chance of success. As Sun Tzu, the philosopher and commander who authored "The Art of War," said, perfection in battle is not merely to win through fighting; the best strategy is to win without fighting. Preventing infections before they occur will be the best gift you can give yourself.
