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Today's topic of discussion will be "immunity" and the human "immune system." It is crucial to learn about and understand how the immune system functions and why it is vital to ensure our immune system is healthy.
Some of you may already be aware of this, but for those who are not, the immune system has a vital role: It protects your body from harmful substances, germs, and cell changes that could make you ill. It is made up of various organs, cells, and proteins. As long as your immune system is running smoothly, you don't notice that it's there. However, if it stops working properly – because it's weak or can't fight particularly aggressive germs – you get ill. Germs that your body has never encountered before are also likely to make you sick. Some germs will only make you ill the first time you encounter them. These include childhood diseases like chickenpox. Your immune system works to recognize and identify an infection or injury in the body. This causes an immune response, intending to restore normal function.
Many people ask: What is the immune system exactly, and how does it help repel intruders? Well, think of it as the body's personal army working from the cellular to macro level. Each cell, molecule, tissue, and organ in this army plays a vital role in warding off invading pathogens and helps guard against internal threats like cancer. The system has two types of response: innate and adaptive. The body's natural barriers against disease-causing intruders – for example, our skin, the mucous and hairs in our nose, and the acid in our stomachs – are part of our innate immune systems. Adaptive immunity develops over a lifetime of contact with pathogens and vaccines, preparations that help our immune systems to distinguish friend from foe.
The tasks of the immune system are relatively simple. However, the work that is being done on the inside of our body is complicated to comprehend. A lot is going on in our body; if we don't have a balanced immune system, things can become tricky. You see, without an immune system, we would have no way to fight harmful things that enter our body from the outside or harmful changes that occur inside our body. The main tasks of the body's immune system are: to fight disease-causing germs (pathogens) like bacteria, viruses, parasites, or fungi, and to remove them from the body, to recognize and neutralize harmful substances from the environment, and to fight disease-causing changes in the body, such as cancer cells.
Then there is the discussion of activation. How does our immune system activate, and why does it need to be activated? Well, the immune system can be triggered by many different things that the body doesn't recognize as its own. These are called antigens. Examples of antigens include the proteins on the surfaces of bacteria, fungi, and viruses. When these antigens attach to special receptors on the immune cells (immune system cells), a whole series of processes are triggered in the body. Once the body has come into contact with a disease-causing germ for the first time, it usually stores information about the germ and how to fight it. Then, if it comes into contact with the germ again, it recognizes the germ straight away and can start fighting it faster. The body's own cells have proteins on their surface, too. But those proteins don't usually trigger the immune system to fight the cells. Sometimes the immune system mistakenly thinks that the body's own cells are foreign cells. It then attacks healthy, harmless cells in the body. This is known as an autoimmune response.
Another question we are often faced with and asked by many civilians is, "How do we know if we have a weak immune system"? "Are there any signs that we should observe or look out for that may be related to a weakened immune system"? Well, to put it simply, yes, there is a way to understand somewhat or find out if you have a weak immune system. There are indeed signs that one can follow to determine whether their immune system is functioning correctly or weakened.
The most frequent sign of a weak immune system is "high levels of stress," which causes pressure on our immune systems, and this, in turn, weakens our immune system. According to a report by the American Psychological Association, long-term stress weakens your immune system's responses. "That's because stress decreases the body's lymphocytes, the white blood cells that help fight off infection. The lower your lymphocyte levels, the more you're at risk for viruses like the common cold."
The second most frequent sign is continually experiencing the common cold and flu symptoms. For instance, if you always have a cold, that is a sure sign of a weak immune system. It's perfectly normal for adults to sneeze and sniffle through two or three colds each year. Most people bounce back in seven to 10 days. It takes the immune system three to four days to develop antibodies and fight off pesky germs during that time. However, if you're continually catching colds – or have a cold that's won't run its course -- that's a clear sign that's your immune system is struggling to keep up.
The third sign of a weak immune system is related to stomach problems. Oftentimes, those who have tummy problems could be dealing with a weak immune system. For example, If you have frequent diarrhea, gas, or constipation, it could be a sign that your immune system is compromised. Research shows that nearly 70 percent of your immune system is located in your digestive tract. The beneficial bacteria and microorganisms that live there defend your gut from infection and support the immune system. Low amounts of these helpful gut bacteria can leave you at risk for viruses, chronic inflammation, and even autoimmune disorders.
The fourth sign of a possible weak immune system is related to skin. Some who experience or deal with bodily injuries or accidents often and their wounds are slow to heal or fail to recover fully can have a weak immune system. Your skin goes into damage control mode after you get a burn, cut, or scrape. Your body works to protect the wound by sending nutrient-rich blood to the injury to help regenerate new skin. This healing process depends on healthy immune cells. But if your immune system is sluggish, your skin can't regenerate. Instead, your wounds linger and have a hard time healing.
The fifth sign of a weak immune system can be related to or linked to those who experience frequent infections. If you seem to battle frequent infections, your immune system might be sending you red flags. The American Academy of Allergy Asthma & Immunology reports that signs of a possible immune deficiency in adults include:
- Having more than four ear infections in a one-year span
- Developing pneumonia twice during a one-year span
- Suffering from chronic sinusitis or more than three episodes of bacterial sinusitis in a year
- Needing more than two courses of antibiotics a year
The sixth and final sign of a weak immune system is for those who feel exhaustion, tiredness, or frequent energy loss. You know that burning the candle at both ends is bound to leave you feeling sluggish. But if you're getting enough sleep and still suffering from exhaustion, it's worth considering if your immune system is trying to tell you something. When your immune system struggles, so do your energy level. That's because your body is trying to conserve energy to fuel your immune system so it can fight off germs.
Suppose you are experiencing any of the signs discussed above. In that case, there is a chance that you have a weak immune system and should consider some natural/herbal products/supplements to help you maintain a healthy immune system. A healthy immune system is critical in modern times, and it is not something that should be taken lightly. Therefore, I urge those who feel that they may have a weakened immune system to consider some supplements to increase their immunity function.
As you can see, there are several reasons why one should ensure that they have a healthy and robust immune system. It will aid in the reduction of illnesses, and it will also help in fighting off unknown diseases that one may encounter. Therefore, a healthy immune system can help reduce your chances of attracting viruses. We carry a wide variety of products and supplements that are 100% natural and herbal, helping restore your health to optimum performance. Perhaps you are curious and would like to examine further? If so, please visit our web store to peruse our available natural and herbal products and supplements. You may end up finding something that you will like!
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Thank you very much for stopping by our blog. We hope to see you again soon!
Bibliography
Dr. A., G., T. (2020, January 25). How does the immune system function, and how important is the immune system? [PDF File].
Cain, P. (2020, April 7). How does your immune system work? World Economic Forum.
Hasan, N. (2020, March 23). 6 Signs You Have a Weakened Immune System – Penn Medicine.
NCBI. (2020, April 23). How does the immune system work? InformedHealth.org [Internet].