[Kim Jaeho's Life Story]<227> Do Not Obsess Over Symptom Treatment

The world shaped by COVID-19, with its relentless impact and prolonged pandemic, has brought significant changes to all aspects of our lives?politics, economy, society, and culture alike. At the heart of this world burdened by pandemic fatigue lies our health. Losing health inevitably means losing everything, yet the vaccines and treatments we had hoped for still fall short of expectations.

Not everyone may realize this, but the most important factor during an infectious disease outbreak is each individual's immunity. The immune cells, which have a perfect defense system, are what truly protect our bodies from viruses and bacteria without any side effects. Maintaining high immunity is not overwhelmingly difficult, but considering how many people fail, it seems it is not easy for everyone.

Many people misunderstand certain characteristics of immune cells. In some cases, like measles or polio, a single vaccination can provide lifelong protection, but this is not true for most diseases. As long as the master genes embedded in immune cells are functioning properly, there is no bacterium or virus that cannot be overcome. So why do some people suffer or even die due to weak immunity?

Let us consider how immune cells work. Like other cells, immune cells operate by turning on genes to produce necessary substances. To produce the required substances at the right time and in the right amount, three basic conditions must be met: the genes that program the production must not be damaged, the necessary nutrients must be adequately supplied, and the required gene switches must be turned on.

Genes not being damaged means that the DNA, the smallest unit composing the genes, remains intact. Every cell contains 3 billion pairs, or 6 billion DNA molecules. Only about 2% of the total DNA constitutes genes, while the remaining 98% is known to act as switches for genes, and this DNA is 50 times more abundant. It is easy to infer that these switches play a significant role in turning genes on.

Creating a lifestyle that satisfies these three conditions to help immune cells protect our bodies from various pathogens can be summarized as making an environment conducive to immune cell activity. A very good environment for immune cells is the pro-life lifestyle that turns on life switches, known as Newstart (refer to Life Story Part 6).

Meals should be life foods that provide necessary nutrients by eating a variety of fruits, vegetables, and whole grains in sufficient amounts. Harmful substances such as excessive sugar, saturated fats, trans fats, salt, and alcohol should be limited (Part 33). Additionally, quitting smoking, engaging in appropriate exercise (Part 39), getting enough rest and sleep (Parts 47, 48), and managing stress well (Part 52) are also important.

Another important aspect related to immunity is understanding how immune cells work and not interfering with their function. When viruses or bacteria enter the body, a fierce battle ensues between the pathogens trying to settle and multiply and the immune cells trying to eliminate them. If immune cells succeed in early suppression, the person does not get sick; if they fail and disease develops, symptoms such as fever, fatigue, headache, and rash appear.

At this time, people receive treatments aimed at eliminating these symptoms, but caution is necessary. These symptoms are not caused by the pathogens themselves but are immune responses produced by immune cells to remove the pathogens, so they are not harmful at all. Runny nose, cough, headache, high fever during colds or flu, vomiting or diarrhea during enteritis, and inflammation when infected or wounded are all the same.

Pathogens that enter the body do not die on their own, nor do they die by consuming any food or nutrient. White blood cells, the immune cells, must produce certain substances to eliminate them, which is not a simple task. Especially when a large number of strong pathogens enter at once, immune cells have more work to do, and this process is the immune response. So, what should we do at such times?

Although these symptoms are uncomfortable, it is crucial to remember that they are an essential process to eliminate pathogens. We should not be obsessed with treatments that only remove symptoms but rather support immune cells and wait. Only then can immune cells complete their mission quickly. If immune cells raise body temperature to kill viruses and we take antipyretics to lower it, can the disease heal faster?

Since no medicine yet kills viruses, recovery from colds, flu, or COVID-19 is only possible when immune cells kill and eliminate the viruses. Therefore, we must understand that medicines aimed at removing symptoms interfere with the immune cells’ mission. Unless the pain is unbearable, symptom-relieving medicines should be avoided, and instead, an environment conducive to immune cell activity should be created.

When body temperature rises due to infectious diseases, rather than immediately using antipyretics, it is helpful to endure the fever to some extent to support immune cell function, rest, and drink plenty of water. When very ill and appetite decreases, fasting is recommended. The loss of appetite during illness is also part of the immune response, aiming to reduce energy spent on digestion and focus on fighting invaders.

Jaeho Kim, Independent Researcher

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.