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IMMUNITY
What is Immunity?
Immunity is the body’s ability to prevent and fight off the invasion of germs, bacteria, viruses and various other pathogens. These infectious agents can cause severe harm to the body as they carry diseases. When these pathogens invade the body, an immune response is activated, which fights the antigens that the pathogens carry. White blood cells perform the function of killing the pathogens in the immune system.
Immunity is very critical to maintain. Failing to do so will result in irreversible damage to the body and sometimes may even result in death. In times of a pandemic, it is all the more important to maintain healthy immunity and keep it unaffected.
Immunity can be Innate and Acquired / Adaptive
Innate Immune System - The First Line of Defence
The innate Immune system is the ‘first to fight’ against an invading pathogen. It fights pathogens by activating cells that detect and destroy invaders. It also informs the acquired/adaptive immune system of invading pathogens, which follows the information given by the first line of defence. Our Innate immune system is what we are born with and consists of all of our basic immune responses such as inflammation, sneezing and coughing.
The Innate Immune system does not fight specific pathogens like the acquired immune system does. Innate immune responses depends on the ability to recognize the nature of invaders which are not present in a normal human body.
Acquired Immune System - Specific Defence
As a pathogen invades, body creates immunological memory to protect itself against this pathogen the next time it invades. The immune system providing protection against specific pathogens is the result of the Acquired Immune System. Acquired Immunity is also known as adaptive immunity. When a person is exposed to a pathogen or through a vaccine (attenuated or dead pathogen), the body’s cells learn to recognise them and store this information to be recalled later. This information is used to produce antibodies that specifically know how to destroy the pathogens in case they enter the body again. Vaccines are the prime example of the Acquired Immune System. They help the body remember disease causing pathogens.
Types of Immunity
1) Active Immunity: is the most common form of acquired immunity. It is activated when a disease causing pathogen enters the body. Active immunity can be acquired through Natural means, where the person contracts the actual disease and falls sick, or through a vaccine.
A) A Natural Immunity: is built up after the patient has acquired the actual disease or infection. The body learns to recognise the pathogen and creates specific antibodies that kill them. This information is stored as immunological memory and is used to kill the pathogen in case it enters the body again.
B) Vaccine Induced Immunity: is acquired through a vaccine, which administers a weakened or killed form of the disease organism into the body. This creates antibodies in the person’s bodies that kill the pathogen in the case of an invasion.
2) Passive Immunity: is acquired when a person is given antibodies from someone else and does not produce them in his/her own body. In this form of immunity, the body only recognises the pathogens for a small period of time, after which it forgets and the person is at risk of falling sick. Passive Immunity can be built up rapidly, whereas Active immunity takes several weeks to build up. Examples of the body receiving passive immunity are:
A) Mother’s Breast Milk: When a baby is born, it has a lot of deficiencies in its immune system and the mother’s milk is primarily responsible for plugging these deficiencies. Mother’s milk contains antibodies which protect the infant against any pathogens it may contract in the first few months of life.
B) Blood Products: Blood products such as Immunoglobulin contain antibodies which when given, protect the body against a specific pathogen or disease.
What affects/weakens the immune system?
Many factors can contribute to the weakening of the immune system. They are;
Lack of sleep
The sleep cycle releases specific proteins that help to strengthen the immune system. Lack of sleep will, as a result, weaken the immune system..
Anxiety
Additionally, it can also be destroyed by vices such as smoking, excessive drinking, lack of exercise, poor nutrition (lack of vitamins and minerals) and diseases such as HIV/AIDS which destroy white blood cells (WBCs) and therefore weaken the immune system. That’s why the former is known as acquired immune deficiency.
Immuno-Deficiency
Immuno-deficiency refers to the adaptive immune system not being able to perform its function at all or only doing it partially. This condition is extremely serious as the body cannot fight any disease, and even a common cold can prove to be lethal to the person suffering from it. It happens due to extreme unsanitary conditions, malnutrition and primarily due to diseases such as HIV/AIDS which prevent the body from fighting diseases by destroying white blood cells.
How to maintain a strong immune system?
Boosting your immune system can be done in multiple ways. The most common ways to do
this are to implement a balanced diet in the daily routine, which includes consuming a lot of
fruits, vegetables, drinking enough water and consuming the right vitamins. Discontinuing
damaging habits such as smoking, drinking alcohol, not sleeping adequate amounts and not
exercising go a long way in maintaining a strong immune system. It is also important that a
person takes active steps to improve their personal hygiene - washing hands thoroughly,
having a bath and so on. Not doing so will create a vulnerable situation to catch infections,
which damage the immune system.
Role of Nutraceuticals in boosting the immune system?
With pandemic raging, almost every person on the globe has been trying to strengthen their
immune system. Multiple ways have been tried with successes and/or failures.
Nutraceuticals have emerged as a most confident means to boost the strength of the
immune system. Nutraceuticals are defined as foods that are medically functional, that
provide protection to the body from diseases. They are available in the form of
supplements, vitamins and probiotics. They provide additional support to the body’s immune
system.
Curcumin
Curcumin is an extract from turmeric which is gaining popularity due to its evidence to be a natural anti-inflammatory and antiseptic medicine. It has been found to support the immune system by countering viral replication.
Zinc
Promotes metabolism and heart health, and also promotes the production of T- Cells, which actively fight against infections.
Vitamin C
Vitamin C supports the immune system by helping the body produce more white blood cells - which actively fight pathogens.
Probiotics
Probiotics has a direct correlation in strengthening the immune system as it receives a boost from the absorption of essential vitamins and nutrients from food.
Vitamin D
Vitamin D helps maintain optimal blood calcium and phosphorous levels. When maintained well they can protect the body against respiratory illnesses.
B complex vitamins
B complex vitamins are directly responsible for maintaining a healthy condition for the immune system. A meal with high B complex vitamins will result in a strong immune system.
Selenium
Selenium is an antioxidant that provides support to the immune system.
Garlic
Garlic has anti-viral properties, and studies have shown that people who consume garlic have been successful in evading covid-19 and other infections. Even if they did contract it, they had less severe symptoms.
Licorice Root
Licorice Root has anti-inflammatory properties and soothes the effects of infection such as a sore throat.
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