The immune system is a complex and multifaceted organ system that is found throughout the entire body and brain. One of the major reasons for its complexity is that it comprises so many different components that work together to perform a multitude of diverse functions.
What Makes The Immune System Important?
The immune system consists of organs such as the spleen and thymus, specialized tissues including the bone marrow, and mucous membranes found along the respiratory and digestive tracts. It also holds highly specialized cells like B cells, which help produce antibodies, and T cells, which can engulf invading microbes.
All of these dedicated organs, tissues, and cells work in a highly orchestrated manner to act as the body’s natural defense mechanism against harmful microbes like bacteria, viruses, yeast, and parasites.
Moreover, a healthy immune system is easily distinguishable, as it surveys the entire body for harmful foreign microbes. If something is detected, a response is immediately given out to eradicate the main source of infection.
In fact, the immune system can even detect cancer cells in our body! Its main job is to find these cells and get rid of them so they do not continue to grow and turn into a disease.
Immune System & Inflammation
In addition to defending the body against cancer cells and external pathogens, the immune system also plays a big role in repairing damaged body tissues through the process of inflammation.
We typically hear about inflammation as something that is bad and harmful. While that may be true, inflammation is also a tool our body uses to repair and heal bodily tissues.
Without a strong immune system, our health would be severely compromised since it would make us highly vulnerable to any and every kind of harmful microbe, so much so that it could actually be fatal! Plus, if we had the ability to mount the inflammatory response, something as simple as a paper cut may never heal!
It’s truly amazing when you think about it. How the various parts of the immune system work in such a carefully orchestrated manner, symbiotically performing different tasks. It is due to this intricate function that many scientists are now beginning to view the immune system as possessing its own intelligence.
A key component of self-care is getting an adequate amount of good quality sleep.
What Happens When Your Immune System is Compromised?
Needless to say, our immune system takes care of essential processes within our body. However, if that system is compromised, it can lead to dysfunction.
Dealing with an immune system dysfunction is incredibly challenging, especially considering how it gives way to almost all the chronic diseases we encounter.
If the mechanisms in our body that survey for cancer or foreign microbes become out of balance, it could lead to the emergence of chronic infections, allergies, autoimmune diseases, or even cancer. For instance, if the immune system overreacts to substances coming from outside the body, it can result in allergy. But if the immune system overreacts to substances inside the body, it can give way to an autoimmune condition such as rheumatoid arthritis.
Similarly, if the immune system underreacts to substances coming from outside the body, it could lead to an infection. However, if the immune system underreacts to substances inside the body, it could result in cancer.
Imbalanced Immune System & Chronic Disease | ||
|---|---|---|
External source | Internal Source | |
Overactive Immune Response | Allergies | Auto-immune |
Underactive Immune Response | Infection | Cancer |
The Importance of a Balanced Immune System
In order for our immune system to remain healthy, it needs to strike a balance with the inflammatory response. That is to say, when it comes to any health issue, be it a headache or a heart disease, inflammation is almost always the root cause.
However, it is important to keep in mind that inflammation is only considered harmful if the issue that triggers the inflammatory response doesn’t stop or get resolved. In such cases, it could result in chronic inflammation, which can cause many different types of symptoms depending on the cell, body tissue, organ, or organ system that is being affected.
All in all, it is safe to say that a healthy immune system is vital for long-term good health. In my practice as a naturopathic doctor, I focus on helping my patients maintain a healthy and balanced immune function.
The best way to do that is by addressing important lifestyle factors such as stress, high sugar intake, and sedentary behavior, which cause imbalances in the immune system. If not careful, our body can become vulnerable to infection, disease, and uncontrolled inflammation.
A balanced immune system is the cornerstone of long-term good health.
How Does Our Lifestyle Affect Our Immune System?
Stress is one of the biggest triggers of a poor immune system. This is because too much stress releases cortisol and adrenaline hormones, which inhibit the immune system’s ability to fight infections. Not to mention, high blood cortisol causes intense sugar cravings, leading to more belly fat. Chronic stress also causes long-term immune system suppression, increasing inflammation and infection risk.
On the other hand, high sugar intake is also a big reason for a weak immune system. When consumed in excess, sugar can interfere with the functioning of white blood cells that are responsible for fighting infections. This raises the risk of diseases and a longer recovery time.
That is why consuming too much sugar is a double whammy. Not only does it feed the bacteria trying to take up residence and cause infection, but it also suppresses our white blood cell activity. It goes without a doubt that sugar is the number 1 dietary immune suppressant!
Sedentary behavior can also suppress the immune system. Lack of physical activity can decrease the number of immune cells in the body, making it easier for infections to take hold. Physical inactivity is associated with chronic low-grade inflammation and a sluggish immune response.
In A Nutshell
It is essential to adopt healthy lifestyle habits to support a robust immune system. Managing stress levels, reducing sugar intake, and engaging in regular physical activity can help keep the immune system functioning optimally and protect the body from infections and diseases. Working with one of our professional naturopathic doctors at Aspire Natural Health can help enhance your lifestyle and promote healthy immune system function.
