Hello, I am the human immune system: why has everyone forgotten about me with COVID-19?

I think I remember first hearing the terms immunity and immune system when I was still an infant. We then learn about it in more detail in Biology 101 in both primary and high school. And studying medicine—well, that is supposed to make doctors de facto experts in human biology. Many things have flabbergasted me as a practicing physician over the last several months of dealing with the COVID pandemic. I have already written and spoken about many of these. But one the biggest issues I am miffed about is the total lack of discussion about our innate immune systems and the tremendous leverage each one of us has to boost our own immunity. Research shows that up to 80 percent of people have no symptoms whatsoever of COVID-19. Not even a sneeze. Most of these people are younger and healthier—and that’s to be expected. This is actually a similar statistic to influenza (if you were to swab everybody in winter, you would find millions of cases of “asymptomatic Flu” everywhere). This is how respiratory viruses have always been passed among human populations. So what is it then that leads to so many asymptomatic COVID cases?

The answer is simple: our immune systems. It’s not rocket science, but biology 101. There was a large discussion on a major American news network a few nights ago. Two of the biggest medical faces in the country were discussing why everybody in the same household doesn’t contract COVID-19. I won’t mention their names, but trust me—one of them in particular is seen as a go-to for all medical knowledge. They debated all sorts of theories—perhaps the household members were not getting too close? Perhaps they were already self-isolating? Perhaps certain rooms in the house were worse than others? At no stage whatsoever, did any of these experts mention the glaringly obvious biological truth: For the vast majority of people, the human immune system recognizes a foreign virus and immediately starts killing it and stopping it proliferating. Being exposed to COVID-19, like any virus, doesn’t mean that you will get sick from it. I often feel like tearing my hair out at how we are talking so little about our immune systems, when we are dealing with a respiratory virus! It’s ludicrous; what is wrong with us? Surely everything has to start from this point.

The biggest risk factor groups for getting seriously ill from COVID-19 are therefore people with compromised immune systems; the elderly and those with chronic diseases including diabetes. As an example, the average age of death from coronavirus in the UK is 82.4 (actually higher than the life expectancy in that country), which underscores just how vulnerable the elderly are (especially nursing home residents). It’s these vulnerable people who must be protected above all others. Being overweight or obese is also a big immunity-suppressor, likely the 3^rd biggest risk factor, and is a big reason why countries with very low obesity rates but elderly populations—such as Japan—have fared so much better during the pandemic.

As well as the advice on public health measures such as social distancing and masks—why is there literal radio silence in the media and among the medical community, about what most of the adult population can otherwise be doing to strengthen their own bodily immune systems and minimize their risk of getting sick from coronavirus? We are not powerless here. Eating a healthy diet including foods rich in vitamin C and antioxidants (such as fruits, vegetables and berries), exercising, and yes—for a lot of us—shedding those pounds, are enormous scientifically proven immunity boosters. Actually, enormous might not be a big enough word. These things will all realistically do far more long-term good for us than many other measures.

I have said it before and will say it again. If it was up to me, helpful preventive lifestyle medicine advice would be taped next to every single media article on COVID-19, or at the end of any news story. This is what would happen if we actually had a media who wanted to empower us, genuinely cared about America’s health and well-being, and didn’t want to just focus on sensationalist or politicized stories that generated the most click-bait. Will this be 100 percent effective or cure COVID-19? Of course it won’t. But it would make a hell of a difference if doctors were promoting this message en masse. I am ashamed at the total lack of discussion about this by the medical community. It’s inexcusable. I resolve to keep on shouting this message as loud as I can.

Suneel Dhand is a physician, writer, and YouTuber. He is Founder at MedStoic Lifestyle Medicine and DocsDox. Follow him at Medstoic Lifestyle Medicine on YouTube and Instagram.