This Article includes:
What is immunity ?
It's types.
How it can be increases ?
Immunity is the ability of a person which can resist the infection or overcome it.It found in human from birth. It acts like a defence system for any person without it living a healthy life is impossible.
So It has two components that is humoral immunity ( it is related to the antibodies which is found in human body) and second is cellular immunity ( a type of white blood cell, T cells).
Both of these components are complementary to each other and help the individual in resisting the infections and diseases.
It essential to know about the antigens and antibodies to understand about immunity.
ANTIGEN is the substance or bacteria that stimulates the production of antibodies. And ANTIBODY is a type of blood protein which is produced by lymphocytes ( a type of cell) and this is capable to resist the antigens or toxin.
This means antibodies are produced by reaction of antigens which react specifically to that ANTIGEN.
Body must have this Ability to resist disease causing material like pathogens. In more specific term it the ability of the body to recognize, and separate or destroy the bacteria, viruses, and other threats to body.
TYPES OF IMMUNITY
Immunity can be broadly classified into two types :
●□ Natural
●○ Acquired
□NATURAL
When a person inherits or gets through genetic structure that is called natural immunity.
Certain groups and races are more likely to suffer from specific diseases. Like some diseases are found only in animals for example animal plague, while some others attack only humans for example typhoid.
Monkeys don't get syphilis while the goats don't get tuberculosis.
So, specific individuals, class, family and species have certain specific natural immunity.
○ACQUIRED IMMUNITY
This can be of two types:
●☆ Active
●◇Passive
☆ACTIVE IMMUNITY
In this body prepares its own antibodies to resist infection. This can be done through naturally acquired immunity and this develops in a body of a person.
After the attack of a disease e.g. measles, yellow fever, a person develops a resistance power within the body after the attack of disease.
And, if it develops as a result of immunization then this is a artificially acquired immunity.
For example polio, typhoid etc in these case resistance power against disease develops after immunization.
◇PASSIVE IMMUNITY
The body itself does not develop this but person depends upon readymade antibodies. In emergency the person can depends on these to fight against the disease.
Like child acquired the antibodies present in the mother's serum through the breast feeding.
Another Example of these type of immunity are when the attack of tetnus, injection of ATS is given.
HOW TO BOOST IMMUNITY ?
We have so many ways to boost defence system of our body and maintain ourselves healthy. Things we have to follow in our daily life that is helpful for our body's defence mechanism.
• ■Improve your gut heath
Gastrointestinal tract makes a large part of immune system about seventy percent of cells are found in lining of gastrointestinal tract.
The lining of intestine secretes antibodies and contains cells that recognise and destroy harmful bacteria.
As our gut receives a lot of micro organisms with foods which we eats, wall of our guts provides a barrier immunity which prevents micro organisms that enters our body.
Apart from providing immunity our gut is also a home for about thousands of species of bacteria that normally live their which provides essential health benefits by regulating our immune system. So, you need to improve your gut health.
How can you improve your gut health
Take daily probiotic
Probiotic are live bacteria and yeast that are good for us specially for our digestive system. Probiotic is also called good or helpful bacteria, many types of bacteria are classified as probiotic which have different benefits.
Most comes from two groups :
- ◇First is Lactobacillus
- ◇Second is bifidobacterium
Lactobacillus
Lactobacillus is most common probiotic which you can find in yogurt and fermented foods, these can help in diarrhoea and also in peoples who can’t digest ‘lactose’ ( the sugar in milk ).
Bifidobacterium
Bifidobacterium can be found in some dairy products, it is also found in large amount in olives, chees and curd. It also helps to ease symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome.
■Avoid taking heavily processed foods.
Large amount of calories in processed and fast food may lead to health problems such as increased inflammation, reduced control of infection, increased rates of cancer, increased rates of allergic and immune disease. That’s why you need to cut your processed food consumption.
■Check you vitamins level
“Vitamins are essential to life” these organic compound usually acquired as part of balanced diet or by biological and metabolic processes.
Vitamins are essential fir the proper function of our immune system. Immune cells are one of the most rapidly dividing cells in the body and they need large amount of vitamins to reproduce or function properly.
Vitamin D
Vit. D is the most important vitamin for your immune health, people who get chronic infection have low level of this vitamin.
Vitamin A
Other important vitamin is vitamin A, biologically active form of vit. A is retinoic acid which have found positive effects on the immune system.
Retinoic acid is also used as therapeutic treatment for the certain diseases like arthritis, multiple sclerosis, psoriasis etc.
Food which are rich in vit. A are eggs, milk, and green vegetables.
Vitamin E
This vitamin is known fir its antioxidants ability, you get this vit. Through vitamin pills but its better to get this vit by natural sources like egg, mushrooms, green vegetables, garlic etc.
■Regular exercise
Regular exercise stimulates the immune system and makes the infection defence system of body strong. Moderate level exercises helps to circulates and inflow of lymphatic fluids.
Lymphatic fluids are found in the body that travels through the cells and tissues and removes bacteria, toxins, waste product and even cancer cells.
At least for thirty to forty minutes do some light exercises for five days in a week to boost immunity.
■Don’t take too much stress
Chronic stress suppresses the immune response of the body by releasing hormone cortisol.
Cortisol interferes with T cells “ a specific type of white blood cells that play important role in the immune system of body.
You can deal with your stress with the help of meditation. Meditation reduces your cortisol levels .
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