The Immune System
Scientists have known for a long time the remarkable ability of your immune system to defend the body against all kinds of infections and diseases.
"Most of the threats assaulting the immune system are completely invisible to us, yet impact us more than we can imagine. Immune cells are everywhere in your body, including your skin, lymph nodes, and blood. Prompt and effective immune cell communication and coordination is critical for immune system health."
It all boils down to optimal balance. Your immune system is in constant flux; sometimes battling threats, other times coming back into a state of rest. Optimal balance occurs when the immune system responds quickly and effectively, but also knows when to call back the troops and rest. This results in high energy reserves, a quick and effective immune system, and increased support for every other body system.
- An under active immune system happens when immune cells aren’t working up to par. You may feel low on energy and you’re more vulnerable to illness.
- An overactive immune system is when the immune system misunderstands and responds to false signals and outside sources that aren’t actually out to get you, or it keeps fighting when it should rest.
- An optimally-balanced immune system recognizes the problem, responds to the problem, calls off the immune cells when the threat is over, and rests.
Many members of the medical community view immunotherapy as the most promising new way of addressing cancers in the future.
In an article from the University of Connecticut Health Center - By Garret Condon * David L. Woodland says, "The immune system is directly related to your general state of health."
The article continues with quotes from various professionals about boosting the Immune System
- "Plenty of sleep and regular exercise." - Dr. Michael Frogel *
- "Any kind of stress-relieving activity - from various forms of meditation to exercise" - David L. Woodland *
- "A well-balanced diet is a key to a stronger immune system for people of all ages." - Dr. Janet McElhaney *
- "A moderate balanced diet, exercise, sleep and stress relief - it sounds like a recipe for overall health" - Anthony Vella *
* Dr. Michael Frogel, chief of the division of general pediatrics at Schneider's Children's Hospital of Long Island Jewish Medical Center in New Hyde Park, N.Y
* David L. Woodland, an immunologist at the Trudeau Institute, a nonprofit research center in Saranac Lake, N.Y.
* Dr. Janet McElhaney, a geriatrician at the University of Connecticut Health Center in Farmington
* Anthony Vella, an assistant professor of immunology at UConn.
* University of Connecticut Health Center article (opens in new tab or window)
Immune system disorders fall into two broad categories:
- See - Autoimmune Disorders
- See - Immunodeficiency Disorders
"The immune system is made up of lymphoid tissue in the body, which includes the bone marrow, lymph nodes, thymus, tonsils, and parts of the spleen and gastrointestinal tract.
Normally the immune system's army of white blood cells helps protect the body from harmful substances, called antigens. Examples of antigens include bacteria, viruses, toxins, cancer cells, and foreign blood or tissues from another person or species. The immune system produces antibodies that destroy these harmful substances."
From a MedlinePlus Article (opens in new tab or window)
"An immune system is a collection of mechanisms within an organism that protects against disease by identifying and killing pathogens and tumor cells. It detects a wide variety of agents, from viruses to parasitic worms, and needs to distinguish them from the organism's own healthy cells and tissues in order to function properly. Detection is complicated as pathogens adapt and evolve new ways to successfully infect the host organism."
From a Wikipedia Article (opens in new tab or window)