The Immune System

Immune System

The immune system helps us in several ways. It protects our body, helps it heal, and destroys anything harmful that enters the body. In short, the immune system helps us stay alive. This article will discuss the typical diseases that affect the immune system and how they work.

Diseases and the Immune System

Oftentimes you will be told that your catching a flu or cold will weaken your immune system. This is because it is true. The immune system has amazing mechanisms that can effectively wipe out several diseases from the body. However, pathogens can also have a way to manipulate these mechanisms. They are able to escape host immune responses. Bacteria can get rid of physical barriers by producing enzymes, which digest the barrier. The proteins secreted cause the host’s defenses to collapse.

Infectious diseases can weaken the immune system. Let’s first talk about the common and less-serious infectious diseases. All viruses, bacteria, parasites, and fungi can affect the immune system. You may have a weakened immune system from simply catching a cold. Poor hygiene and an unsanitary environment can also increase your susceptibility to diseases. Diseases can be transmitted sexually, through inhaling airborne droplets, through contact with infected blood, through insect bites, through direct skin contact, by eating contaminated food, and through contact with contaminated water.

Some diseases actually cause the immune system to function abnormally. You may develop allergies or hypersensitivity, which are both immune system disorders. Diseases that affect the immune system include autoimmune diseases like anemia and rheumatoid arthritis, immune complex diseases, and immunodeficiency diseases like acquired immunodeficiency syndrome, commonly known as AIDS.

AIDS and the Immune System

What HIV does is invade the cells of the immune system and turns the cells into workhouses that produce HIV. The cells of the immune system are reprogrammed, and more and more cells are taken over. Because these cells are being invaded, the body can no longer defend itself from all other infections. When other diseases enter the body, you start becoming gravely ill. HIV also has the ability to mutate, and this is one of the reasons why treating this disease has been so difficult to treat.

Psychological Factors and the Immune System

Studies have shown that stress does play a role in weakened immune systems. Furthermore, psychological disorders can affect the immune system. There has been evidence that patients who were schizophrenic took longer to heal after surgery. It has also been concluded that depression weakens the immune system in various ways. Since it is closely related to stress, it can negatively affect the body’s defenses. It has also been found that depression causes people to take less care of themselves, thus opening doors to infectious diseases and a weakened immune system. The ability to think clearly, cope well, and heal properly is eventually affected.

We need a strong immune system to keep healthy and live a great-quality life. When caring for our immune system, we need to familiarize ourselves with diseases that affect it.