The Dr. Hyman Show Exclusive Dr. Hyman+ Functional Medicine Deep Dive: Winter Immune Resilience
Jan 3, 2023
Elisa Song, an integrative pediatrician from the San Francisco Bay Area, shares her expertise on boosting winter immune resilience. She discusses the impact of pandemic lockdowns on children's immunity and highlights the concept of 'immunity debt.' The conversation dives into effective strategies against winter illnesses, including dietary tips and the role of exposure to germs. They also explore the flu vaccine's nuances, assessing its effectiveness in preventing symptoms while urging a holistic approach to pediatric health.
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Immunity Debt and Pandemic Lockdowns
- During the pandemic lockdowns, children lacked exposure to common germs, resulting in untrained immune systems.
- This lack of exposure may have contributed to increased severity of illnesses like RSV and acute hepatitis post-lockdown.
Immune Resilience and Cellular Hormesis
- Immune resilience isn't about avoiding sickness, but bouncing back stronger.
- Each exposure to a stressor, like an infection, strengthens our cells' ability to cope with future stressors.
Winter Virus Basics
- Understand that various viruses cause winter "crud," including RSV, influenza, common cold, and COVID-19.
- Note that SARS-CoV-2 is highly contagious, while other viruses like the common cold are less so.