Immune System Strengthening

CHS 232
Mrs. Lamis AL-Sayyari
 Respiratory infections, influenza, and particularly
pneumonia are a leading cause of death in people over 65
worldwide
?What is the immune system
?What is the immune system

The immune system is made up of a complex and vital

network of cells and organs that protect the body from
infection.
What is The purpose of the
?Immune system
What is The purpose of the Immune
?system

The purpose of the immune system is to keep infectious

microorganisms, such as certain bacteria, viruses, and
fungi, out of the body, and to destroy any infectious
microorganisms that do invade the body.
What is the immune system
made of?
?What is the immune system made of

The organs involved with the immune system are called the
lymphoid organs, which affect growth, development, and the
.release of lymphocytes (a certain type of white blood cells)
?What is the immune system made of
Skin: The skin is usually the first line of defense against
microbes. Skin cells produce and secrete important
antimicrobial proteins, and immune cells can be found in
specific layers of skin.
?What is the immune system made of
The blood vessels and lymphatic vessels are important
parts of the lymphoid organs because they carry the
lymphocytes to and from different areas in the body.

Each lymphoid organ plays a role in the production and

activation of lymphocytes.
Lymphoid organs
?What is the immune system made of
Lymphoid organs include:

 Adenoids. Two glands located at the back of the nasal passage.

 Blood vessels. The arteries, veins, and capillaries through
which blood flows.
 Bone marrow. The soft, spongy tissue found in bone cavities.
 Lymph nodes. Small organs shaped like beans, which are
located throughout the body and connect via the lymphatic
vessels.
?What is the immune system made of
Continued lymphoid organs include:

 Lymphatic vessels. A network of channels throughout the

body that carries lymphocytes to the lymphoid organs and
bloodstream.
 Peyer's patches. Lymphoid tissue in the small intestine.
 Spleen. A fist-sized organ located in the abdominal cavity.
 Thymus. Two lobes that join in front of the trachea behind the
breastbone.
 Tonsils. Two oval masses in the back of the throat
?What are lymphocytes

 Lymphocytes are a type of infection-fighting white blood

cell that are vital to an effective immune system.
?How are lymphocytes formed
 The precursors of all blood cells, including immune cells, such
as lymphocytes, are produced in the bone marrow.
 Once the lymphocytes are initially formed, some will continue
to mature in the bone marrow and become "B" cells. Other
lymphocytes will finish their maturation in the thymus and
become "T" cells.

 B and T cells are the two major groups of lymphocytes that

recognize and attack infectious microorganisms.
Thymus & Bone Morrow
?How do lymphocytes fight infection
?How do lymphocytes fight infection
 B cells produce specific antibodies to infectious
microorganisms, while T cells kill infectious
microorganisms by killing the body cells that are affected.
In addition, T cells release chemicals called cytokines.
 Other types of white blood cells, such as phagocytes
(engulfing cells) and natural killer cells (cytotoxic
cells), actually destroy the infectious microorganisms

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iZYLeIJwe4w
Types of Immunity
Types of Immunity

Humans have three types of immunity — innate, adaptive,

and passive
Innate Immunity
 Everyone is born with innate (or natural) immunity, a type
of general protection.

 Includes also the external barriers of the body, like the

skin and mucous membranes, which are the first line of
defense in preventing diseases from entering the body.
Adaptive (Active) Immunity

 Adaptive immunity involves the lymphocytes and

develops as people are exposed to diseases or immunized
against diseases through vaccination.
Passive Immunity
 Passive immunity is "borrowed" from another source and
it lasts for a short time.

 Ex. antibodies in a mother's breast milk (temporary

immunity to the baby during the early years of childhood).
 Everyone's immune system is different. Some people
never seem to get infections, whereas others seem to be
sick all the time
?What are disorders of the immune system
What are disorders of the immune
?system

 When the immune system does not function properly, a

number of diseases can occur.

 Allergies and hypersensitivity to certain substances are

considered immune system disorders.

 In addition, the immune system plays a role in the

rejection process of transplanted organs or tissue.
What are disorders of the immune
?system
Other examples :

 Autoimmune diseases, such as juvenile diabetes,

rheumatoid arthritis, and anemia

 Immunodeficiency diseases, such as acquired immune

deficiency syndrome (AIDS) and severe combined
immunodeficiency (SCID).
?What is an infectious disease
?What is an infectious disease
According to the CDC, an infectious disease is caused by
one, or more, of the following:

 Viruses
 Bacteria
 Parasites
 Fungi
?What is an infectious disease

 Infectious diseases can range from common illnesses,

such as the cold, to deadly illnesses, such as AIDS.
?What is an infectious disease
Depending on the disease-causing organism, an infection
can spread in some, or all, of the following ways:

 Sexual transmission. Transmission of an infection

through sexual contact.
 Airborne transmission. Transmission of an infection
through inhaling airborne droplets of the disease, which
may exist in the air as a result of a cough or sneeze from
an infected person.
An infection can spread in some, or all, of
:the following ways
 Blood-borne transmission. Transmission of an infection
through contact with infected blood, such as when sharing
hypodermic needles.
 Direct contact transmission. Transmission of an
infection through a direct body surface-to-body contact
with an infected person.
 Insect-borne transmission. Transmission of an infection
through insects, such as mosquitoes, which draw blood
from an infected person and then bite a healthy person.
An infection can spread in some, or all, of
:the following ways

 Food-borne transmission. Transmission of an infection

through consuming contaminated food.

 Water-borne transmission. Transmission of an infection

through contact with contaminated water.
How do antibiotics work against infections?
How do antibiotics work against
?infections
 Antibiotics can be used to treat bacterial infections.
 However, antibiotics are ineffective in treating illnesses
caused by viruses.
 In addition, antibiotics treat specific bacteria.
 Overuse or misuse of antibiotics can lead to drug-resistant
bacteria.
 It is important that antibiotics are taken properly and for
the duration of the prescription.
 If antibiotics are stopped early, the bacteria may develop a
resistance to the antibiotics and the infection may reoccur.
Increase immunity the healthy
way
Increase immunity the healthy way
 Many products on store shelves claim to boost or support
immunity. However, boosting the number of cells in your
body — immune cells or others — is not necessarily a
good thing.

 For example, athletes who engage in "blood doping" —

pumping blood into their systems to boost their number of
blood cells and enhance their performance — run the risk of
strokes.
Increase immunity the healthy way

 Attempting to boost the cells of your immune system is

complicated -so many different kinds of cells in the
immune system that respond to so many different
microbes in so many ways. Which cells should you boost,
and to what number? So far, scientists do not know the
answer.
Increase immunity the healthy way

 What is known is that the body is continually generating

immune cells.

 The extra cells remove themselves through a natural

process of cell death called apoptosis

 No one knows how many cells or what the best mix of

cells the immune system needs to function at its
optimum level.
Immune system and age
 Immune system and age

 Aging → ↓immune response capability → ↑infections and cancer

 ↑ life expectancy in developed countries → ↑ incidence

of age-related conditions
Immune system and age

 Compared with younger people, the elderly are more

likely to contract infectious diseases and, even more
importantly, more likely to die from them.

 Possibly from the thymus atrophying with age and

producing fewer T cells to fight off infection
Immune system and age
 There appears to be a connection between nutrition and
immunity in the elderly.

 “Micronutrient malnutrition”, in which a person is

deficient in some essential vitamins and trace minerals
that are obtained from or supplemented by diet, can be
common in the elderly.

 Older people tend to eat less and often have less variety in
their diets.
Diet and your immune system
Diet and your immune system
 Healthy immune system warriors need good, regular
nourishment.

 However, there are still relatively few studies of the

effects of nutrition on the immune system of humans.

 There is evidence on animals, needs to be more assessed

in humans
Improve immunity with herbs
and supplements?
Improve immunity with herbs and
?supplements

 There is no evidence that bottles of pills and herbal

preparations that claim to "support immunity“ actually
bolster immunity to the point where you are better
protected against infection and disease.
Stress and immune function
Stress and immune function
 A wide variety of maladies, including stomach upset,
hives, and even heart disease, are linked to the effects of
emotional stress.

 Despite the challenges, scientists are still studying the

relationship between stress and immune function.

 Stress is difficult to define (subjective), hence lack of

evidence.
Does being cold give you a weak
?immune system
Does being cold give you a weak immune
?system

 So far, researchers who are studying this question think

that normal exposure to moderate cold doesn't increase
your susceptibility to infection.

 Most health experts agree that the reason winter is "cold

and flu season" is not that people are cold, but that they
spend more time indoors, in closer contact with other
people who can pass on their germs.
Does being cold give you a weak immune
?system

 Researchers documented an increase in upper respiratory

infections in competitive cross-country skiers who
exercise vigorously in the cold, but whether these
infections are due to the cold or other factors — such as
the intense exercise or the dryness of the air — is not
known.

 No sure evidence that cold affects immunity.

?Exercise: Good or bad for immunity
?Exercise: Good or bad for immunity
 Regular exercise is one of the pillars of healthy living.

 Just like a healthy diet, exercise can contribute to general

good health and therefore to a healthy immune system

 It may contribute even more directly by promoting good

circulation, which allows the cells and substances of the
immune system to move through the body freely and do
their job efficiently.
Get your copy of Starting to Exercise

 What can improve your mood, boost your ability to fend

off infection, and lower your risk for heart disease,
diabetes, high blood pressure, and colon cancer? The
answer is regular exercise

 Hundreds of studies demonstrate that exercise helps you

feel better and live longer.
What can you do to boost your immune system?
What can you do to boost your immune
?system

 The immune system is precisely that — a system, not a

single entity. To function well, it requires balance and
harmony.

 There is still much that researchers don't know about the

intricacies and interconnectedness of the immune
response.
What can you do to boost your immune
?system

 For now, there are no scientifically proven direct links

between lifestyle and enhanced immune function.

 But that doesn't mean the effects of lifestyle on the

immune system aren't intriguing and shouldn't be studied.
What can you do to boost your immune
?system

 Researchers are exploring the effects of diet, exercise, age,

psychological stress, and other factors on the immune
response, both in animals and in humans.

 In the meantime, general healthy-living strategies are a

good way to start giving your immune system the upper
hand.
What can you do to boost your immune
?system

 Your first line of defense is to choose a healthy lifestyle.

 Following general good-health guidelines is the single

best step you can take toward naturally keeping your
immune system strong and healthy.
What can you do to improve your
?immune system

Every part of your body, including your immune system,

functions better when protected from environmental assaults
and bolstered by healthy-living strategies such as the
following:
What can you do to improve your
?immune system

 Take steps to avoid infection, such as washing your hands

frequently and cooking meats thoroughly.
What can you do to improve your
?immune system

 Stay up to date with recommended immunizations.

What can you do to improve your
?immune system

 Don’t smoke
What can you do to improve your
?immune system
 Eat a diet high in fruits, vegetables, and whole grains.
Restrict saturated fats and sugars to 10% of total calories.
Minimize consumption of red and processed meats.
What can you do to improve your
?immune system

 Exercise regularly. Try to get 150 minutes of moderate

activity a week.
What can you do to improve your
?immune system

 Maintain a healthy weight.

What can you do to improve your
?immune system

Control your blood pressure.

What can you do to improve your
?immune system

 Get adequate sleep.

What can you do to improve your
?immune system

 Get regular medical screening tests for people in your age

group and risk category.
Thank you
References

 https://kidshealth.org/en/parents/immune.html

https://www.health.harvard.edu/staying-healthy/how-t
o-boost-your-immune-system

 https://www.stanfordchildrens.org/en/topic/default?id=all-
about-the-immune-system-90-P01665