Dr. Anusha Vadlamudi with Allergy Partners of Coastal Carolina shares some information about this vital part of the body and how it works
Essential for survival, the immune system defends the body against germs and works to prevent or limit infection and illness. The body depends on the immune system to be able to fight harmful substances that come into the body from the outside and harmful changes that occur inside the body.
According to the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, NIAID, the immune system can distinguish between normal, healthy cells and unhealthy cells by recognizing a variety of danger cues. After sensing foreign substances such as a toxin, bacteria, or virus, the immune system reacts to deal with the problem.
Dr. Anusha Vadlamudi, MD, board certified in allergy/immunology and pediatrics, is a provider at Allergy Partners of Coastal Carolina. She shared some information about this vital part of the body and how it works.
1. The immune system includes various parts of the body including skin, bone marrow, and the bloodstream.
The immune system is our defense system made up of a network of special organs, cells, and chemicals that interact and work together to fight infections, said Vadlamudi.
Bone marrow and thymus are primary organs where immune cells are generated and trained, said Vadlamudi. Lymphatic system, which includes lymph nodes and spleen, monitors the blood and detects and responds to pathogens and malignant cells.
The immune system also includes the skin and lymphatic tissue in the mucous membranes, which can be found in the respiratory tract, such as the tonsils and adenoids, reproductive tract, small intestine, and urinary tract. In fact, immune cells such as white blood cells, their products, such as antibodies, and chemicals such as chemokines, enzymes, etc. are present throughout the body in most organ systems, Vadlamudi said.
2. Two main ways onesimmunesystem defends the body is through innate and adaptive immunity. Innate Immunity, present at birth, and adaptive immunity (sometimes called acquired immunity) are two main parts of the immune system and work together to form an immune response through which the body recognizes and defends itself against bacteria, viruses and other substances it perceives to be foreign and harmful.
When the body detects foreign substances, also called antigens, the immune system begins working to recognize the antigens and get rid of them. An antigen is any substance that triggers ones immune system to make antibodies against it to try to fight it off. Innateimmunityis something already present in the body and is triggered by the chemical/structural properties of the foreign substance, Vadlamudi said.
According to the U.S. Library of Medicine, innate immunity, the first part to respond to an invader, involves barriers that prevent harmful materials from entering ones body and includes the cough reflex, skin, stomach acid, enzymes in tears and skin oils, etc.
Adaptiveimmunityis more complex, Vadlamudi said. Theimmunesystemkeeps a record of every microbe it has ever defeated, in types of white blood cells (B and T lymphocytes) called memory cells.
This memory makes future responses against a specific antigen more efficient. Viral infections like the flu and the common cold have to be fought many times because so many strains of the same type of virus can cause these illnesses. Therefore, getting a cold from one virus does not give youimmunityagainst the others.
3. Defects of the immune system can make someone vulnerable to infection, allergies, autoimmune diseases and even cancer.
According to the NIAID, when the immune system cannot activate an immune response when necessary problems such as infection occur. Problems such as allergic reactions and autoimmune diseases occur if an immune response is activated without a real threat or isnt turned off even after danger is gone. For example, if ones immune system reacts defensively after encountering usually harmless thingssuch as eggs or peanuts, theres probably an allergy.
Several factors can prevent an immune system from functioning properly. For example, primary immune deficiency diseases impair the immune system. These rare disorders are caused by genetic mutations affecting various parts of theimmunesystem.
PIDs are outnumbered by acquiredimmunedeficiencies, caused by factors such as chronic viral infections (such as HIV or hepatitis C), malnutrition, malignancy, diseases like cystic fibrosis, protein loss from gastrointestinal problems or kidney problems, bone marrow disease, medications such as immunosuppression or radiation, and life events such as trauma, surgery, aging etc., said Vadlamudi.
4. A healthy diet, stress management and sufficient sleep are beneficial to theimmunesystem.
Other than our genetics, ourimmunesystemis impacted by our diet, lifestyle and our environment, Vadlamudi. There are numerous nutrients, vitamins and minerals that are required to support the normal functioning of our immune system. Supplements are not necessary if you eat a well-balanced,healthy diet. Ensuring your diet has adequate Vitamin D, Zinc, Vitamins (B12, B6, B9 aka folic acid), Vitamin C, and Omega 3 fatty acids is important. There is evidence that a healthy gut microbiome may keep yourimmunesystemfunctioning optimally; so, you may consider keeping these gut bacteria healthy with prebiotics and probiotics. Chronic stress can suppressimmunity; stress management as well as getting enough sleep and exercise are all very important. Please keep in mind that hand washing, social distancing and self-isolation if symptomatic remain the most efficient ways to actively prevent infections.
Read more from the original source:
4 things to know about the immune system - Burlington Times News
