Immune systemClick on a link to jump to a topic of interest Information on the immune system(defense mechanism) Causes of a weak immune system
Basics of the immune systemSo, any cell or microbe having a different blueprint than the body's own code is identified as foreign to the body. Once identified, the immune system goes into action and wages a furious war to defeat the intruder. This causes a flare up which eventually makes you sick. It is thought that the infectious agents remain dormant in the body tissue and once aware of a weakness in the immune system, attack the body's cells. To be effective, the immune system must have the ability to recognize these clever, camouflaged intruders and destroy them before they do any damage to the body. Weakened Immune System CausesThe following are some of the common causative factors that weaken our immune system: 1) Pathogens - Ex: Bacteria, viruses, fungi, parasites. 2) Toxic pollutants - Ex: Smog, industrial smoke, cigarette smoke, harmful vapors, vehicle emissions. 3) Potential antigens - Ex: Medications, pollen, dander, toxins, chemicals. 4) Foreign cells and tissues - Ex: Malignant cells, foreign tissue such as from transplanted organs, or transfused blood. 5) Stress - Stress is a definite culprit that weakens the immune system because it affects the production of interferon and cortisol. 6) Digestive disturbances - can also result in the buildup of toxins because of inadequate elimination thus the accumulated toxins may overpower the immune system and weaken it. Types of immunity1) Cell mediated - In this type of immunity T-Lymphocytes are the master defenders.
2) Humoral immunity - This type of immunity gets involved by producing antibodies. The initial immune response that comes into play is just a nonspecific defense mechanism. This immune response is generally the same towards all invaders. Part of the response involves macrophages which can engage, weaken and engulf invaders. However, despite the initial efforts, if the invaders haven't been neutralized then the macrophage will tag an invader as alien and introduce it to the rest of the more specialized cells, recruiting them to enter the battle scene. After the antigens have been chemically tagged, the highly specialized cells called T-Cells or T-Lymphocytes render the invader(s) harmless. T-Cells get their name from thymus where they originate. The aggressive type of T-cells are natural killer cells, they are the ones that maintain control over the invaders and mutating cancer cells. They halt the immune response when the battle is over. Other cells involved are helper T-cells, these help the development of the immune response. Then there are the B-cells which get their name from bone marrow, a powerful cell producing site. B-cells are also produced in the spleen and lymph nodes, they also help in fighting infections. Sometimes the immune system itself becomes stressed due to overload of antibiotics, steroids, immunizations, environmental pollutants and other factors as mentioned above. When this happens the immune system is unable to distinguish harmful cells from healthy cells and so the protector turns offender and gives rise to autoimmune disorders such as lupus and rheumatoid arthritis to name a couple. In performing its task the immune system sometimes overreacts to antigens and causes allergies in some individuals. Compromised immunity is the main factor in opportunistic diseases such as candidiasis, chronic fatigue syndrome, HIV, hepatitis & cancer. Immune system weaknesses1) When the immune system overreacts to an antigen, like pollen, an allergic reaction can occur. 2) When immune sensors cannot recognize healthy cells from harmful cells, the immune system will turn offender against the body and give rise to autoimmune disorders like lupus or rheumatoid arthritis. 3) When the immune system is weakened illnesses can develop rapidly and opportunistic infections may manifest. 4) When malignancy sets in, cancer may develop. The following are a few ways you can adopt to enhance your immune system and stay healthy. Create a healthy lifestyle by
2) Drink lots of water - filtered or bottled water may be better, the simple reason for this is: filtered or bottled water may have fewer pollutants. 3) De-stress yourself - ways of accomplishing this can be found in our topic about stress. 4) Exercise - it will not only make you feel better but it will also help in production of immune cells and promote weight loss. Proper digestion is key to a healthy immune system, by exercising you are also promoting better digestive function which will aid in keeping your body clean of toxins and keep the immune system healthy. (consult your physician first before starting any kind of exercise program) 5) Other - avenues include yoga, meditation and breathing exercises. More information on yoga and breathing exercises coming soon in our specialty departments section. 6) Vitamins and herbal supplements - are key in maintaining a healthy immune system. Maintaining and boosting the immune system may translate into a longer and better quality of life. Sign up for our newsletter and receive valuable freebies, health topic updates and more.
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