THE IMMUNE SYSTEM

The immune system is a natural function of the human body. It requires high amounts of energy to work properly because it is active 24 hours a day…every day… for life. The human body is constantly under attack from millions of microorganisms that exist on this planet, such as allergens, bacteria and viruses. The immune system is the human body’s defense against these "invaders" and commands a diligent army that fights infection and keeps us thriving.

Consisting of a complex network of cells, tissues, and organs, the immune system involves a sensitive process of checks and balances within the body that produce an immune response which is prompt, self-limiting, accurate and effective. Scientists believe that a healthy immune system rivals the workings of the brain and nervous system in scope and complexity…and is every bit as important for survival. What are the factors that influence the immune system’s ability to fight infection and disease, and how does it function? For the layperson, the following provides an explanation of the human body’s extraordinary defense mechanism.

The Workings of the Immune System

The immune system’s ability to protect the body is based on a dynamic and uniquely elaborate communication network that regulates its intricate functions. A complex network of organs, tissues and cells stationed throughout the body communicate information back and forth like swarming bees interact around a hive…all working separately, yet together for the greater good of the whole.

This includes the organs collectively called the Lymphoid Organs because their primary concern is with the growth, development, and deployment of Lymphocytes… the white cells in the blood that are the key operatives of the immune system. Besides blood and the Lymphatic vessels that carry lymphocytes to and from various structures in the body, lymphoid organs include bone marrow, lymph nodes, spleen, thalamus, tonsils, adenoids, and the appendix.

Like all other blood cells, the ones destined to become immune cells, are produced in the bone marrow, the soft tissue in the hollow core of long bones. Here, they develop into two major types called B cells and T cells. While B cells mature in the bone marrow, T cells migrate to the thymus gland, an organ that lies behind the top of the breastbone, where they nurture and multiply into cells capable of producing an immune response. They use the blood circulation as well as an encompassing network of lymphatic vessels to migrate constantly throughout the body.

Another type of white blood cell called macrophages support and work in congress with lymphocytes because they surround and destroy microorganisms as they are encountered. The immune system along with white blood cells utilize a complex grouping of small, bean-shaped lymph nodes in the neck, armpits, groin and abdomen, to create lymphatic routes throughout the body. Each lymph node contains specialized compartments that are garrisons for platoons of B cells, T cells, and other cells capable of triggering an immune response action.

In addition, clusters of lymphoid tissue can also be found in strategic areas, such as around the mucous membranes lining the digestive tracts and respiratory system that serve as entryways into the body. They include the appendix, the tonsils and adenoids. The spleen, a fist-sized organ at the upper left of the abdomen, is utilized as a filter for the blood by the immune system. In the spleen, old red blood cells are destroyed as B cells become activated and produce large amounts of antibodies.

All of these elements, pieces and parts work in unison to create an incredible defense system that guards the body against the threats that bombard human health and well being every day.

Immune System Activation

The immune system is divided into two basic levels of interactive protection. The first is the Innate…or “Natural” immune system. This level of immune protection recognizes that there is a foreign invader present and sends out a molecular alarm to alert the entire immune structure device that an invader has been encountered, giving a relative reading of its general description.

The second level is called the Adaptive …or “Specific” immune system. After receiving the alarm from the innate immune mechanism, the adaptive immune system goes into action further identifying the culprit, and sending out the appropriate defense to thwart it.

The immune system has a wide variety of cells acting together to take care of unwanted infections and altered cells. Some of these cells function to communicate and orchestrate the attack on bacteria and viruses. Some help direct and regulate immune responses by binding to specific receptors on target cells, while others encourage cell growth, direct cellular traffic, promote cell activation, and destroy other target cells.

Immune Response: How the Body Fights Back

The immune system is known to be one of the most sophisticated systems in the human body because of its remarkable characteristics, including the ability to distinguish between healthy cells in the body called “self”… and invading cells called "non-self." But when the immune system encounters an antigen … the substance that announces that a cell or organism is "foreign"… the immune strike force speeds to the infected area to remove the threat.

The discovery of an antigen signals certain immune cells to launch an immune response by either the B or T cells. When the invading microbe creates an antigen on the outer casing of one of these cells, the B or T cells are stimulated, then multiply and produce antibodies that uniquely target that antigen. This response then causes a chain-reaction whereby other aspects of the immune system engulf and kill the attacking cells.

This is known as the "complement destruction cascade," where serum proteins called “complement” (because they complement the work of antibodies) bind to the immobilized antibodies and annihilate the bacteria by creating holes in them. This “cascade” is a precise sequence of events by which each component of the complement system is activated in turn.

In the procession of response events, some T cells and B cells become "memory" cells when activated. This enables the immune system to remember previous attacks and react with quick and accurate precision. Thus, if a person were to contract a disease like Chicken Pox for example, the immune system would program memory cells for this malady, resulting in future immunity. Broad-term or “specific” immunity protection can be acquired naturally by infections previously experienced, or acquired artificially by vaccines generated from infectious agents.

Despite these remarkable abilities, the immune system can occasionally malfunction, causing minor nuisances… to major disabling health challenges. The most common of these malfunctions is when an allergic reaction manifests after a normally harmless irritant such as cat hair or Olive tree pollen sets off an immune system response. It can become a serious situation, when the immune system wrongly identifies “self” as “non-self” and performs a misguided immune response against healthy cells.

Life Elements Which Have Affect On the Immune System

Although the immune system is remarkably flexible and resilient, a myriad of factors in everyday life have been identified that weaken the body’s ability to stave off infection. For example, the immune system does not function as efficiently in older adults. There is a growing scientific consensus that while the elderly produce the same amount of lymphocytes as younger people, their composition is less effective which leads to infection-fighting cells that are less aggressive than in younger adults.

Simultaneously, clinical tests have identified that sleep deprivation, lack of proper physical activity, improper diet and psychological stress are factors that weaken the immune system as well. Stress is known to negatively affect the endocrine systems, including the vital “fight or flight” response. Researchers therefore conclude that the immune systems performance is weakened by frequent activation response of the autonomic nervous system caused by chronic stress.

For example, a large study analyzing parents of healthy children compared to parents whose children are stricken with serious disease indicated that chronic psychological stress appears to negatively modify the immune system's reactions to hormonal secretions which are traditionally activated to combat the response to inflammation. This leaves the parents of the sick children with a lesser ability to counteract swelling and other challenges caused by inflammatory conditions…let alone the other devastating effects that stress can cause.

Addressing the connection between the immune system and lack of sleep, clinical trials conducted by the National Sleep Foundation indicate that sleep deprivation deteriorates the immune system. The result of a lack of quality sleep decreases the body’s ability to ward off colds and influenza. It is common for those who experience sleep deprivation to suffer from other problems including asthma, diabetes, or even secondary sleep disorders.

Proper diet and nutrition play a key role regarding the strength of the immune system, and has been closely studied. According to several research projects, both the overweight or obese, as well as the undernourished, are at a higher risk from bacterial or viral attack. Research suggests that by simply limiting the amount of fat in the diet, an increase of immune activity can be achieved. Based on these conclusions, nutritional experts suggest a well-balanced diet including an appropriate amount of fruits, vegetables, whole grains and dairy products with low fat content.

In Summary

Because the immune system is the human body’s defense against viruses, bacteria, allergens and other “foreign invaders,” public health authorities agree on the importance of building and maintaining a healthy immune system. Recent studies have revealed that because our current civilized environment has reached a point where modern living has been cleansed to a point of minutia, immune systems are weaker now than they were 100 years ago on average because they aren’t challenged in the same way.

Over time, with food processing becoming more and more regulated, household cleaning solutions and hygiene practices becoming more advanced, and protection regimens at all levels becoming more acute, the immune system has been lulled into a less active role as was natural in the past. We as a society have become almost too clean.

However, in today’s world where the constant threat of Pandemics, “Superbugs”, chronic diseases, allergies, food borne illnesses and antibiotic-proof infections are a daily news headline, a properly functioning immune system is vital to the health and welfare of every Human Being. This means that all people surviving on this planet need to avoid the factors that weaken immunity, and supplement their diet with beneficial immune system building ingredients. ImmunXT was developed to fill that need and as such has become the most powerful immune-stimulatory product ever discovered.

By learning how to cope with stress, getting better sleep, exercising more, and getting the right balance of immune supporting nutrients, all people, regardless of their age, can lead a healthy, active life bolstered against the onslaught of infection and disease.

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