YOUR
SYSTEM How to protect yourself against disease BY SHANA CHAVEZ SWUPHD Clinical Assistant
he immune system is our body’s defense network. It protects us from germs and other harmful substances that could make us sick. Without our immune system we’d have no way of fighting off illness. Its main functions are to prevent or limit infection by detecting and removing pathogens (such as bacteria, viruses, and parasites), recognizing and neutralizing harmful environmental toxins, and fighting changes caused by other non-infectious agents in the body, like cancer cells.
that react immediately upon recognizing a foreign substance by surrounding and engulfing it.
The adaptive, or acquired, system works with the innate system to produce antibodies that protect our bodies from specific invaders. After developing over a period of days, antibodies can then recognize and more easily fight these specific pathogens if we are exposed to them again. Vaccinations work in this way by training our immune system to produce the antibodies Immune cells are numerous and reside in that protect against specific diseases. specific organs and tissues throughout the body - such as skin and bone marrow - or Our immune system does such a great job circulate through the bloodstream and of protecting us against disease that we allymphatic system. The immune system most don’t notice it’s there – until it fails us. itself is made up of two subsystems: the When our immune system is weak or caninnate immune system and the adaptive not respond as needed then problems can arise, like an infection. The more underimmune system. lying health issues we have, the harder it is The innate, or natural, system is the one we for our bodies to fight illness. As we age, were born with. It is our rapid response our immune response declines as the numsystem and provides a general or non-spe- ber and quality of immune cells decreases. cific protection. It is mostly comprised of While we don’t have absolute control over killer cells and phagocytes (eating cells) the genetics and environment that affect
HEALTH MAGAZINE | FALL 2020
