Immune systems are complicated systems that help protect our bodies and shield us from all things harmful. Ever since the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic weve managed to get ourselves into quite a spin over our own immunity. Instead of panicking, lets chat about some fun facts about your powerful immune system. Theyre stronger and more resilient than you think.
Think of your immune system as your bodys version of the military. Its designed to defend you against anybody or anything who threatens your chance of survival. Itll never surrender or let you down. Unless you abandon it. This is all because immune systems have millions of strong warriors who can help make this possible.
When you nourish your immune system youll have protection against diseases, infections, viruses and injuries.
Its as simple as sneezing or coughing to spread bacteria and viruses. Even when youre talking to somebody who is sick, it increases your risk of getting their sickness. You can get sick just by touching bacteria-infected surfaces and then touching your face. So it is pertinent to keep up your hygiene discipline, which we should be doing in any case. When you keep yourself clean, you give your immune system a fighting chance. Simply washing your hands for 20-seconds is still one of the best ways to keep yourself healthy and stop the spread of bacteria and viruses.
In fact, the immune system isa complex fighting system powered by five liters of blood and lymph. According to Healthline, Lymph is a clear and colorless liquid that passes through the tissues of the body. Experts explain that these two fluids transport all the elements of the immune system so they can do their jobs.
Literally, were made up of millions of tiny white knights. These are our white blood cells.
Theyre just like brave knights heading out into battle every time something tries to plunder their kingdom. They need to protect their king or queen, you. Immune systems have two different types of white blood cells: phagocytes and lymphocytes.
Lets have a mini biology lesson.
Then, every pathogen carries a specific type of antigen. Moreover, each lymphocyte in your body carries antibodies meant to fight the antigens carried by pathogens. There are three main types of lymphocytes in the body: B cells, T cells, and natural killer cells.
Your B cells are your fighters. They are the antibodies which attack bacteria, viruses, and toxins that enter the body. All immune systems have T cells which kill cells in the body that have been overtaken by viruses or that have become cancerous. Just like T cells, natural killer cells kill infected or cancerous cells. However, instead of producing antibodies, they make a special enzyme, or chemical, that kills the cells.
Basically, immune systems create new antibodies whenever theyre infected with a new antigen. If the same antigen infects you a second time, immune systems can quickly make copies of the corresponding antibody to destroy it. However, these warriors only live up to a few weeks, so its a good thing theres a lot of them. In fact, a single drop of blood can contain up to 25,000 white blood cells. Amazing, right?
Dont be. Its a very healthy sign that youve got a fever or are experiencing some sort of inflammation.
Sure, it is very unpleasant and feels horrific. But its a sure sign that your immune system is doing its work hard. The reason you contract fever is due to the release of white blood cells. This then increases your metabolism and stops certain organisms from multiplying.
Inflammation happens when each damaged cell releases histamines. Histamines cause the cell walls to dilate. This creates redness, heat, pain, and swelling of inflammation. As a result, your body limits the effects of the irritant.
There are a variety of reasons why its integral to get in your beauty sleep. They call it that for a reason, so dont start skimping on it guys and girls. If youre running around like a mad horse, and now youre starting to feel off. Then you might get sick. And no, thats not as surprising as you might think.
This is when immune systems are taking action. Its your bodys defence mechanism, working hard and taking revenge against your relentless on-the-go mentality. Slow down. Sleep, my child.
Especially if you have been clocking all-nighters or getting less than five hours of sleep per night. Not only will your happiness deplete, but immune systems get depressed too. So, youre basically opening up the door to all kinds of colds, flus, and infections.
Theres tons of research proving that our immune systems thrive when theyre exposed to more sunlight and vitamin D. Interestingly, there are even new light therapies available because of the power of light. Getting regular sunlight is great because it shows how your body naturally produces vitamin D. This vitamin helps protect you from a variety of harmful illnesses like depression, heart disease, and certain cancers. Its even good for people with autoimmune disorders.
Dermatologists recommend that everyone should wear sunscreen with broad-spectrum UVA, UVB protection, and Sun Protection Factor (SPF) 30 or higher. Generally, its also best to avoid the sun between 10 am and 14,00 because thats when its the hottest. When the sun is very strong, you should also wear protective clothing, such as:
Immune systems dont function at their finest when youre completely stressed out. In fact, you will only damage yours. It can only handle so much, even though it can tackle most problems. Constant stress releases cortisol, adrenaline, and other stress hormones from the adrenal gland. Combined they help your body cope with stress. Normally, cortisol is helpful because it decreases the inflammation in the body that results from the immune responses caused by stress.
However, if youre chronically stressed, stress hormones can affect the way our immune systems function over time. This increases your risk of health problems, including:
Its important to find healthy ways to deal with your stress. This will decrease your risk of long-term stress and its related health problems. Some good ways to reduce stress include:
This might sound cliche but theres honestly so much truth in the remark. Every time you laugh, your brain releases dopamine and other feel-good chemicals which can all help decrease stress.
Experts say that just twenty minutes of laughter a day may not keep the doctor away, but it may help keep your immune system working properly.
It does seem counterintuitive. But you cant be overly hygienic because your gut needs lots of bacteria to be healthy. Some bacteria can help you digest your food. In fact, most people think that every kind of dirt, germ or bacteria outside your body is bad. This just isnt the truth. Our immune systems need those germs to stay healthy.
Immune systems can adapt, which is why human beings have been around for so long. Once your body comes in contact with a foreign substance, it attacks it and remembers it. If it comes back, your body knows what to do.
Dont be afraid of allergies. Seasonal allergies or hay fever are perfectly normal. Even if you feel like cursing every molecule of pollen or dust in the air. These microscopic particles cause the release of histamines, which create some of the nasty symptoms of allergies. This just proves how strong our immune systems are!
We dont all experience allergies, but theyre often caused when your body mistakes something harmless, as a threat. Usually, this happens with pollen or a type of food. Your body launches an immune response against it, causing you to experience allergic symptoms.
Unfortunately, this can happen. Certain people have immune systems that start to attack healthy tissue in the body, which causes disease. This is called autoimmunity.
Most people have immune systems that get used to their own tissue before they are born. They do this by turning off the cells that would attack them. Autoimmune disorders occur when the body mistakenly attacks healthy tissue. This is what occurs in people with autoimmune diseases such as:
These diseases are treated with drugs that suppress the immune system.
The bottom line: Work hard to protect your immune system and it will do the same for you.
Fruits and vegetables are easy to get our hands on nowadays. Even when its not the right time of year for certain ones to grow, there are still stores that will have what youre looking for. Here is why.
Fun Facts About the Immune System. Healthline. https://www.healthline.com/health/cold-flu/fun-facts#1
The Secrets to Never Getting Sick. Healthline. https://www.healthline.com/health/cold-flu/cold-flu-secrets#1
The Importance of Washing your Hands. Cleveland Clinic. https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/articles/17474-hand-washing
How to Prepare for the Coronavirus. New York Times. https://www.nytimes.com/article/prepare-for-coronavirus.html
Healthy Habits to Help Prevent Flu. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. https://www.cdc.gov/flu/prevent/actions-prevent-flu.htm
Read the original here:
Immune Systems Are Complex, But Filled With Fun Facts - Longevity LIVE
- Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (Lupus) - Who gets it? | NIAMS - February 7th, 2025
- Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (Lupus) Basics - National Institute of ... - February 7th, 2025
- Long COVID: women at greater risk compared to men could immune system differences be the cause? - The Conversation - February 7th, 2025
- What is Pemphigus? Symptoms & Causes | NIAMS - February 7th, 2025
- How the immune system influences pancreatic cancer: New interactions provide therapeutic insights - Medical Xpress - February 7th, 2025
- Mitochondrias Secret Power Unleashed in the Battle Against Inflammation - SciTechDaily - February 7th, 2025
- WNT11 Promotes immune evasion and resistance to Anti-PD-1 therapy in liver metastasis - Nature.com - February 7th, 2025
- The role of the behavioral immune system in the expression of short and long-term orientation in young Chilean men during the COVID-19 pandemic - BMC... - February 7th, 2025
- Harvard nutritionist eats these 5 foods to keep her 'immune system strong' and 'energy high' - CNBC - February 7th, 2025
- Micro Immune Response On-chip (MIRO) models the tumour-stroma interface for immunotherapy testing - Nature.com - February 7th, 2025
- Personalized Therapeutic Vaccine Steers the Immune System to Fight Kidney Cancer | Newswise - Newswise - February 7th, 2025
- Identification of m6A methyltransferase-related WTAP and ZC3H13 predicts immune infiltrates in glioblastoma - Nature.com - February 7th, 2025
- Serotonin attenuates tumor necrosis factor-induced intestinal inflammation by interacting with human mucosal tissue - Nature.com - February 7th, 2025
- Identification of the immune infiltration and biomarkers in ulcerative colitis based on liquidliquid phase separation-related genes - Nature.com - February 7th, 2025
- FLASH radiation reprograms lipid metabolism and macrophage immunity and sensitizes medulloblastoma to CAR-T cell therapy - Nature.com - February 7th, 2025
- Young Innovators: U of S researcher uses bat immune systems to find next generation therapies - Saskatoon Star-Phoenix - February 7th, 2025
- World Cancer Day 2025: Chronic stress, immune system, and cancer risk- How are these connected? - The Times of India - February 7th, 2025
- New research unlocks key to long-lasting immune response in cancer and chronic diseases - The Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity - February 7th, 2025
- Microbial Dynamics and Immune Response to NTHi in COPD - Physician's Weekly - February 7th, 2025
- MHE Week in Review RFK Jr. Spotlight - Managed Healthcare Executive - February 7th, 2025
- Psoriasis Basics: Overview, Symptoms, and Causes - January 27th, 2025
- Vitiligo Symptoms, Treatment & Causes | NIAMS - January 27th, 2025
- The Surprising Connection Between Obesity, Parasites, and Your Immune System - SciTechDaily - January 27th, 2025
- Versatile 69p spice that boosts immune system can go in soups, smoothies and milk - Express - January 27th, 2025
- How the skins secret immune system could lead to needle-free vaccines - Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance - January 27th, 2025
- Fevers link with a key kind of immunity is surprisingly ancient - Science News Magazine - January 27th, 2025
- Immunology - The Scientist - January 27th, 2025
- Opinion: Immune System And Ageing Why We Get More Vulnerable As We Age - ABP Live - January 27th, 2025
- 'Forever chemicals' (PFAS) may weaken immune function in children, leading to more frequent infections - U.S. Right to Know - January 27th, 2025
- Cellular Signals That Wreak Havoc in Sepsis are Revealed - LabRoots - January 27th, 2025
- New Combination Immunotherapy Targets Melanoma and Breast Cancer with Promising Results - Inside Precision Medicine - January 27th, 2025
- New Research in The Journal of Poultry Science: Trained Immunity Offers Novel Poultry Disease Prevention Strategies - PR Newswire - January 27th, 2025
- Scientists uncover how cancer cells hijack T-cells, making it harder for the body to fight back - Medical Xpress - January 27th, 2025
- MiNK Therapeutics Targets Immune Reconstitution to Combat - GlobeNewswire - January 27th, 2025
- Mitochondria may be a promising therapeutic target for inflammatory diseases - Medical Xpress - January 27th, 2025
- Explainer: What is Guillain-Barr Syndrome and how it affects the immune system - Mathrubhumi English - January 27th, 2025
- Yes, Some Vaccines Contain Aluminum. Thats a Good Thing. - The New York Times - January 27th, 2025
- You Are What You Eat? MD Breaks Down The Science Of The Gut Microbiome - mindbodygreen - January 27th, 2025
- Potential gamechanger: Researchers discover basis for immunotherapy-induced myocarditis - Healio - January 27th, 2025
- Ozempic and Wegovy may boost health, from addiction to dementia - BBC.com - January 27th, 2025
- Neutrophil diversity and function in health and disease - Nature.com - December 6th, 2024
- Harnessing the Power of the Immune System for Breast Cancer Treatment - Breast Cancer Research Foundation - December 6th, 2024
- Study Examines Neoantigen Landscapes and Their Role in Immunotherapy Efficacy - Consult QD - December 6th, 2024
- The 5 Best Teas to Support Your Immune System This Cold & Flu Season - EatingWell - December 6th, 2024
- Engineered immune cells may be able to tame inflammation - Medical Xpress - December 6th, 2024
- Hybrid model of tumor growth, angiogenesis and immune response yields strategies to improve antiangiogenic therapy - Nature.com - December 6th, 2024
- Opioids interfere with cancer immunotherapy, but another type of drug could help - Medical Xpress - December 6th, 2024
- RANKL cytokine restores thymus cells in old mice, reducing tumor growth and improving T cell immune response - Fierce Biotech - December 6th, 2024
- Predictive role of neutrophil percentage-to-albumin ratio, neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio, and systemic immune-inflammation index for mortality in... - December 6th, 2024
- Immuno-Oncology Strategic Industry Research Report 2023-2024 & 2030: Approval of Pembrolizumab (Keytruda) and Nivolumab (Opdivo), which Target... - December 6th, 2024
- Study cracks the cold case of immunotherapy resistance - News-Medical.Net - December 6th, 2024
- New immune therapy improves survival and reduces tumor burden in glioblastoma - News-Medical.Net - December 6th, 2024
- Identification of immune-related hub genes and potential molecular mechanisms involved in COVID-19 via integrated bioinformatics analysis - Nature.com - December 6th, 2024
- Immune Cell Breakthrough: Scientists Discover a Hidden Ally in the Fight Against Cancer - SciTechDaily - December 6th, 2024
- Rising temperatures impact the immune system of wild monkeys - Earth.com - December 6th, 2024
- Study declaring Alzheimer's to be a "brain disease" proven to be fabricated - Earth.com - December 6th, 2024
- Warming temperatures impact immune performance of wild monkeys, U-M study shows - University of Michigan News - December 6th, 2024
- New study explores heart risks of cancer immunotherapy - News-Medical.Net - December 6th, 2024
- 'Incredible' way to boost your immune system naturally and ward of colds and flu this winter - The Mirror - December 6th, 2024
- Tis the Season to Boost Your Immune System - Mix93.3 - December 6th, 2024
- A mathematical model simulating the adaptive immune response in various vaccines and vaccination strategies - Nature.com - October 14th, 2024
- Fox Chase Cancer Center Researchers Find Gene That Triggers Immune Response in Treatment-Resistant Small-Cell Lung Cancer - Fox Chase Cancer Center - October 14th, 2024
- What Does It Mean to Be Immunocompromised? - The New York Times - October 14th, 2024
- Scientist hopes to cure Type 1 diabetes by disguising stem cells - The University of Arizona - October 14th, 2024
- Watching an infection unfold with a sphingolipid probe - Drug Discovery News - October 14th, 2024
- The cells that protect your brain against infection could also be behind some chronic diseases - BBC.com - October 14th, 2024
- On Nutrition: Foods that help strengthen the immune system - LimaOhio.com - October 14th, 2024
- An integral T cell pathway has implications for understanding sex-based immune response - Medical Xpress - October 14th, 2024
- Immune Response Linked to Lewy Body Formation - Neuroscience News - October 14th, 2024
- Are vaccines the future of cancer prevention? - Genetic Literacy Project - October 14th, 2024
- The Gut Microbiome and Autoimmunity - Inside Precision Medicine - October 14th, 2024
- Researchers discover how oral cancer cells may block the body's immune response - News-Medical.Net - September 21st, 2024
- Are Vaccines More Effective When You Believe in Them? - Greater Good Science Center at UC Berkeley - September 21st, 2024
- Researchers discover immune response to dengue can predict risk of severe reinfections - Medical Xpress - September 21st, 2024
- Texas Researchers Find Acid Walls That Shield Cancer Tumors from Bodys Immune System Response - DARKDaily.com - Laboratory News - September 21st, 2024
- Lysosomes in the immunometabolic reprogramming of immune cells in atherosclerosis - Nature.com - September 21st, 2024
- A new way to reprogram immune cells and direct them toward anti-tumor immunity - MIT News - September 21st, 2024
- Unravelling the many mysteries of the immune system - Cosmos - September 21st, 2024
- Long COVID patients maintain robust immune memory two years after infection - News-Medical.Net - September 21st, 2024
- Nutraceuticals and pharmacological to balance the transitional microbiome to extend immunity during COVID-19 and other viral infections - Journal of... - September 21st, 2024