By: Sheila McKenzie-Barnswell, B.Sc., R.N.C.
WHAT IS THE IMMUNE SYSTEM?
Well say the word AIDS, (acquired immune deficiency syndrome) and immediately most individuals will tell you that this disease has something to do with an immune system that is not functioning, but what exactly is the immune system? The human body is constantly being invaded by pathogens (disease-producing microorganisms) or foreign substances. The immune system, cells in our bodies which are responsible for defending the body against these constant invaders, act like the soldiers or police to fight the enemy and keep our bodies in good health. There are several specialized cells and tissues which comprise the immune system. Leukocytes: If microorganisms or foreign substances find their way into the blood or enter into the body tissue, a specialized group of white blood cells called leukocytes engage in a process of phagocytoses (eating of cells) IN WHICH FOREIGN PARTICLES AND MICRO ORGANISMS ARE LITERALLY EATEN AND DESTROYED. This is one function of the immune system. There are only about 700 leukocytes in the blood but their numbers are vastly increased when there is infection present. If your blood test shows an elevated white blood count your physician will suspect the presence of infection in the body, it is a sign of pathogens multiplying in the body.
LIFE IS STILL WHAT IT ALWAYS HAS BEEN, A BOTTLE OF MOLECULES
OF OUR CHEMISTRY AGAINST THE INVADERS.
Gonald J. Glasser—The Body is the Hero.
Another type of specialized phagocytic cells are called macrophages, these are associated with specific organs and tissues. The health of the body depends on the continuous monitoring and removal of foreign material and cellular waste from all areas of the body by phagocytic cells of various kinds and functions. Occasionally a person's white blood cell manufacturing ability goes out of control, which results in the crowding out of essential blood substances. This condition is known as leukemia, a kind of blood cancer.
INFLAMMATION:
Inflammation is one way the immune system works to bring about a very complex series of events in a wound or diseased area to bring about healing. Swelling for example, is the increase of local blood flow to the area, this will bring more white blood cells here to initiate healing, by engulfing the micro-organisms and cleaning up the affected area. An exeduate such as pus from a diseased area is really a mixture of white blood cells, debris from damaged cells and microorganisms. This is a sign that the body's defenses are working and that healing is taking place.
INTERFERON:
Our body's lymphocytes, found in the lymphatic system, produce a substance called interferon that interferes with the growth of viruses in the body and protects the body from serious viral diseases.
THE IMMUNE RESPONSES
When foreign substances such as bacteria, virus, pollen, industrial chemicals, etc., enter the body, a complex series of events takes place, this is known as the immune responses. The end result of the immune response is the production of specific molecules called anti-bodies and certain kinds of lymphocytes, that recognize and attach to foreign substances and eliminate them from the body. Lymphocytes and anti-bodies inactivate foreign material until it can be destroyed and removed by macrophages and phagocytic cells that are carried throughout the body. Any substance that is capable of stimulating an immune response is called an antigen (anti-body generator), immunization is based on this principle. The process of immunization is to introduce an inactivated or small dosage of an offending agent into the body. The body having received the offending agent produces anti-bodies to protect itself. If, at a later stage, the body is bombarded by the disease‑producing substance its defenses will immediately recognize this and it is therefore well prepared with sufficient anti-bodies against the offending invader.
THE LYMPHATIC SYSTEM:
The lymphatic system is a series of specialized vessels located throughout the body, containing a fluid known as lymph. Located at various intervals along the lymphatic routes are the lymph nodes which are masses of specialized tissues which are like filters to filter out bacteria and foreign particles from the lymph. Swollen glands in the neck, under the arm, or in the groin area, when a bad cold or other infection is present are actually lymph nodes that have become enlarged and are working very hard to remove invading organisms from the body. Tonsils are actually masses of lymphoid tissues. Swollen tonsils are an indicator that the body is in need of house cleaning. Tonsils, adenoids, spleen and the thymus gland are all organs of the immune system. Until recently it was A FREQUENT MEDICAL PRACTICE TO REMOVE TONSILS (tonsillectomy) OR ADENOIDS adenoidectomy) if those organs became inflamed in the course of their normal duty of fighting infection, or sometimes even if no infection was present, on the assumption that if the organs were removed they could not become inflamed. TODAY, THE IMPORTANCE OF THESE GLANDS TO THE OVERALL IMMUNE DEFENSES OF THE BODY IS WIDELY RECOGNIZED and most responsible health practitioners agree that no child or adult should have these operations performed unless there is a compelling reason to do so.
AIDS:
Autoimmune deficiency syndrome (Aids) is a destructive infectious disease of the immune system, and at this stage there is no known cure. It is responsible for massive loss of lives at present and also in the foreseeable future. Aids consists of a group of symptoms that results from a major breakdown in the body's immune system. Victims of Aids have a greatly reduced number of T-lymphocytes circulating in the blood. Lack of such cells greatly increases one's risk of contracting serious infections and in some cases of developing a rare form of cancer known as KAPOSI'S SARCOMA. Despite the fact that a particular virus maybe responsible for causing Aids, the disease is also a consequence of peoples lifestyles. A number of individuals have received infected blood transfusions and careless use of hypodermic needles is another cause. According to the authorities, Aids is not transmitted by casual contact between persons.
The principal means of transmission are sexual contact, blood transfusions and contaminated needles. There is no cure for Aids nor is any effective therapy envisioned in the near future.
EPIDEMIOLOGICAL ANALYSIS INDICATES SEXUAL CONTACT OR BLOOD PRODUCT
INJECTIONS ARE REQUIRED FOR TRANSMISSION OF AIDS. SIMPLE PUBLIC HEALTH
MEASURES SHOULD CONTAIN THE EPIDEMIC
A. Martin Lerner M.D.
THE ROLE OF NUTRITION ON THE IMMUNE SYSTEM:
The effect of nutrition on the health responsiveness of the immune system cannot be overemphasized. It has been known for a long time that nutritional deficiency is intertwined with the efficiency of the immune function. Lack of essential nutrients impairs the body's ability to defend itself against infectious organisms. Although few individuals actually starve in North America the vast majority of individuals are not optimally nourished.
OVERNUTRITION AS WELL AS UNDERNUTRITION CAN ALTER IMMUNE
RESPONSIVENESS, THUS "OPTIMUM NUTRITION" IS THE KEY PHRASE FOR DIETARY
INFLUENCES TO KEEP IMMUNE RESPONSES WITHIN NORMAL LIMITS.
R.K. Chandra and P.M. Newbern
Both undernourished and over nourished individuals may suffer impairment of the body's defense mechanism, especially the ability of the immune system to protect the body from infectious diseases and cancer cells. The body needs all essential nutrients in order to synthesize cells, anti-bodies and molecules that keep a person healthy. The immune system also benefits from a positive state of mind (see article on visualization.) The more positive your mental attitude and emotional state, the less you are stressed by your environment. The more adequate your nutrition is the more responsive and functional your immune system will be. A healthy immune response means that you are likely to experience fewer infections, be less likely to fall victim to autoimmune diseases and you will probably be less susceptible to cancer formation.
The preceding information is a brief simplified overview of the immune system. For more information on the subject consult THE IMMUNE SYSTEM HANDBOOK, by Charlene Day. This handbook is a lay person's guide to the human immune system. Day makes it easy to understand how the immune system works, how it enhances your body's defenses and protects against disease . It clarifies the link between diet, supplementation and a balanced immune system.