In the lungs, a final, non-specific defence mechanism against viruses is provided by scavenger cells in the immune system, which are found in the alveoli. These cells are responsible for keeping the lungs clean; in doing so, they don’t distinguish between pathogens and pollutants from the environment. But their capacity to gobble up particles is limited. The more time they spend removing fine dust and other particles from the alveoli, the less efficient they are at reducing the number of viruses.
Measures to reduce the number of viruses
It is important to realise that we do not necessarily become infected as soon as we inhale a virus. The probability of infection increases with the number of viruses, which means that the dose of viruses is critical. Breathing only through the nose already reduces the number of viruses that enter the mouth region. Once they have entered into our body, at least some of the viruses that get stuck on the lining of the throat might get removed when using antiviral mouthwashes, of which a wide variety is available. Common home remedies that we typically use to fight early symptoms of a flu infection, such as gargling and drinking hot ginger tea, are fully justified too. Regular inhalation of water vapour further helps to keep the mucus layer in our respiratory tract sufficiently fluid, which in turn helps the conveyor belt to clean out particles more efficiently. Finally, to allow the scavenger cells in the alveoli to fight off viruses as efficiently as possible, it helps to avoid exposure to other environmental pollutants such as particulate matter, and to give up on smoking.
Taking small, additional actions can help to further reduce the number of viruses that enter our lungs, and you can help at several levels: from the nose, throat and bronchial tubes all the way to the alveoli. And it is this number of viruses, again, that determines whether a severe lung infection might occur or not. We are not helpless against the coronavirus. Each and every one of us can do our bit to keep it in check.