| Some people, it seems, are endowed with a healthy | | | | Babraham institute in Cambridge. |
| immune system. They never seem to get sick and, if | | | | Immune globulin can be administered to provide |
| they do get the odd cold, they continue their daily | | | | immediate protection from specific health threats to |
| routine and snap out of it in no time flat. Then you | | | | those who have a severely impaired or suppressed |
| see others who barely have to hear the word 'flu or | | | | immune system. For instance, some who may |
| see someone blowing their nose and bam, they've | | | | normally have fairly good resistance to disease |
| got it! | | | | suddenly realize that their system cannot handle the |
| Is it all in the head? Are you born with a strong | | | | sudden onslaught of germs in the hospital. |
| immune system to fight off disease? Can you do | | | | Likewise, the body under stress, i.e. disease or |
| something about it, if you're not? Anyway, what | | | | sudden accident, is often not capable to fight off |
| does it mean to have immunity? Well, a very simple | | | | multiple vaccines in one shot. |
| explanation is that there are basically two types: | | | | Judging by the large numbers of people coping with |
| active and passive immunity. | | | | disease, the human system is inherently fragile and |
| The definition of 'immune' is that your body is so | | | | cannot handle multiple onslaughts, like the ones |
| strong and resistant to any disease that you will not | | | | discussed above. |
| succumb to it. | | | | Many believe that if you are generally healthy and |
| Active immunity is considered to be long-lasting and | | | | look after your health, you will only have a mild |
| tends to be life-long. If you're in this category then, | | | | version of what's going around. "In truth, there's no |
| whenever you're exposed to a disease organism, | | | | such thing as a normal immune system,'' says Angus |
| your immune system will instantly start to produce | | | | Dalgleish, professor of oncology at St George's |
| antibodies to that disease. Furthermore, if you should | | | | Hospital, London, who researches cancer vaccines. He |
| come into contact with that disease in the future, | | | | says the system is naturally very variable. |
| your immune system will identify it and immediately | | | | The rise of allergies, auto-immune diseases (where |
| fight it off with the stored antibodies. | | | | the body attacks itself) and inflammatory bowel |
| Passive immunity is not inherent in your system. It is | | | | disease are all indicators of immune resistance |
| when you cannot produce enough antibodies to fight | | | | performing under par. |
| off disease, and get an external boost by injection, | | | | Both types of acquired immunity respond to peptide |
| medication or nutritional supplements. | | | | sequences called antigens. Antigens help the acquired |
| Healthy people with an active, innate immunity are | | | | immune system recognize invading bacteria, viruses |
| usually referred to as being resistant to disease in | | | | and other harmful organisms (pathogens). |
| general. The term immunity is usually applied to | | | | Leftovers, non-organic foods, and foods laced with |
| general protection against a specific organism. Even if | | | | preservatives can severely tax the digestive system. |
| you are generally healthy, you may from time to | | | | This can, in turn, clog your circulation, and create a |
| time need a boost in order to help fight off a virulent | | | | sluggish, compromised immune system. |
| strain of a specific infection or virus. The more | | | | Going to be late, working at night, irregular eating |
| severe the disease producing organism, the more the | | | | habits, sleeping during the day, and exposing the |
| passive immunity is applied. | | | | body to stress and fatigue can all affect the |
| The medical profession recommends boosting your | | | | digestion and body rhythms and thus compromise |
| inherent immunity with specific antibodies to fight off | | | | your resistance. |
| a potentially dangerous infection or virus. | | | | Therefore, be good to yourself. Eating nutritiously |
| A good digestion and healthy appetite are indicators | | | | and keeping an active, happy lifestyle will go a long |
| of a strong immunity. "Getting better quickly is a | | | | way to boosting your immune system. Don't worry; |
| better indicator of immune health,'' says Dr Dennis | | | | be happy because "a merry heart doeth good like a |
| Alexander, head of molecular immunology at the | | | | medicine: but a broken spirit drieth the bones." (Prov. |