DuPage Medical Group doctor offers tips on how to prepare for COVID-19 vaccine

As the COVID-19 vaccine becomes more widely available for public distribution, more people are becoming vaccinated every day.

While the approved vaccines have proven to be effective and necessary to reduce the spread of the virus, it's also valuable that you prepare your body ahead of your vaccination appointment to give yourself the best chance to recognize pathogens and create antibodies.

Regardless if you're receiving the COVID-19 vaccine next week or in a few months, you'll want to make sure you're as healthy as possible.

Getting your body ready for a vaccine is like constructing a house - you need to make sure you have a strong foundation to achieve success.

Taking distinct health measures will allow you to put your body in a position where it has learned how to control itself and respond appropriately to the COVID-19 vaccine.

You can begin building a framework for a durable immune system by taking a daily multivitamin. A multivitamin provides an extra layer of nutrients and minerals that you're not always absorbing through food, decreases your chances of acquiring chronic health conditions, and helps you develop greater antibody production.

When priming your body, you should strive to maintain a nutritious diet.

For fuel, aim to eat foods high in whole-grain, fruits and leafy green vegetables. Try to limit foods with added sugars, high sodium and fat content and processed ingredients.

These can create excess stress to your body, potentially affecting your response to the vaccine.

Similarly, hydration is essential for your overall health. When you incorporate more water into your daily regimen, you'll prevent dehydration, boost your energy levels and create an optimal immune response to the coronavirus.

Sleep and exercise are other factors to evaluate prior to your vaccination.

Challenge yourself to get seven to eight hours of sleep a night. The extra rest can be advantageous for your antibody production because you will find yourself more alert, minimizing unnecessary strain to your physical and mental state.

Published data has shown that individuals who are well-rested form more antibodies sooner than those who are sleep deprived prior to receiving their vaccination.

Additionally, according to several research studies, exercise can enable you to manage stress better and keep your strength up, which can contribute to a better antibody response.

While training, don't overexert your muscles but engage in a typical workout geared toward general wellness.

Your mental health is one further contributor in how the COVID-19 vaccine affects your body. If you're stressed the weeks before and after your vaccine, your body can become distracted, hindering your ability to respond well to the COVID-19 vaccine.

Nonetheless, there are strategies to minimize extra tension and de-stress. Make it a goal to laugh every day. From boosting your mood, relaxing your muscles to generating positive endorphins in the brain, laughter is one of the best stress-reducers.

Engaging in community and social interactions, virtually and over the phone, serve as great stressbusters, too. Human connections can provide you an outlet to unfold, form relationships and temporarily remove yourself from the hustle of daily life.

Medication can also play a role in the performance of the COVID-19 vaccine. Several published research studies have found if you take medications, such as ibuprofen and Tylenol, before receiving your vaccine, you may have a less-impactful vaccine outcome.

Why so? When the vaccine is injected into your body, it tries to cause inflammation and mimics the virus. Taking certain medications in advance can decrease this inflammation signaling your body to produce less antibodies, impeding the way you'll respond to the threat of the virus.

Preparing your body for the vaccine is like studying for a test, you don't want to cram prior to the big day. When you create a healthy lifestyle focused on proper nutrition, sleep and exercise, as well as decreased stress, you'll experience the maximum benefits of the vaccine, ultimately protecting you against COVID-19.

• Dr. Mathew Philip is an Internal Medicine physician and Director of Clinical Innovation for the DuPage Medical Group.