Amid COVID-19 crisis, Wilsonville doctors say bettering your immune system is key – Pamplin Media Group

Wilsonville based health experts talk about ways to lessen the risk of becoming critically ill

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WILSONVILLE — While traits like age, blood type and even gender may affect risks related to the disease COVID-19 — and there are still likely unknown factors — local health practitioner David Duemling says that taking steps to improve immune system functionality may reduce risk factors that lead to critical illness.

“The message is you’re not powerless in this situation,” Duemling said. “If you have a powerful immune system you might have this thing and not know it or have mild symptoms.”

Duemling is a chiropractor at Family Chiropractic and a certified wellness practitioner who works at Northwest Wellness Center in Wilsonville along with Kris Ritchey, who focuses on naturopathy and is the owner of Revitalize Health and Wellness.

Both Ritchey and Duemling have a few tips to improve immune system functionality.

In terms of diet, Duemling said to minimize sugar, grain and dairy products.

“Because any time your blood sugar level increases, your immune function decreases,” he said. “Grains and dairy, those are all simple carbohydrates. They’re broken down and converted into sugar when you eat them.”

Instead, he recommended healthy sources of protein like fish and chicken, vegetables, some fruit and olive and coconut oil. And Ritchey said that a diet based primarily on vegetables is the way to go.

To provide a boost, Duemling and Ritchey both recommended supplements that provide vitamin c, vitamin d3 and zinc.

“If they have a compromised immune system for any reason, I’m having my patients (take Vitamin C) every three hours,” Ritchey said.

Ritchey also said that adults must get at least 7-8 hours of sleep a day and that daily exercise is vital. Ritchey said exercise cleans out the lymphatic system, which is part of the immune system. Without movement, she said, you are essentially sitting in your own waste.

“We need about 30 minutes of brisk movement everyday, at least five days a week,” she said. “You can make it into a game. Pick a 30 minute sitcom, turn it on and do any kind of movement you want; move your body for the whole time and then the brain will know at the end of the 30 minutes ‘I get to stop.'”

Additionally, Duemling recommended people take time to escape from the coronavirus-dominated news cycle.

“That tends to stress people out and increase worry. Stress and worry are detrimental to immune function,” he said.

On the other hand, exercise, Duemling said, is a stress reducer.

“So many people who are regular exercisers get that runner’s high. It will help get you out of your funk and put a positive spin on things,” he said.

Duemling was also worried about people isolating themselves amid the virus outbreak and recommended they make an effort to interact with friends and family as much as possible.

“In our neighborhood we pull out barbecues in the street. We have social separation but we still have community,” he said.

On the other hand, Ritchey notes that even people with seemingly strong immune systems have fallen victim to serious cases of COVID-19 and stresses that strengthening the immune system isn’t any sort of cure.

However, both Duemling and Ritchey encourage clients to use this public health crisis as an opportunity for personal betterment.

“You have to break that chain of mindset and behavior so you have different outcomes,” Duemling said.