Immune Defense – Function, Task & Diseases
Immune defense
The human organism is exposed to a multitude of dangers every day. An intact immune system proves to be extremely important for this reason. If one’s own immune system is no longer functioning properly, life-threatening diseases can sometimes appear.
What is the immune system?
The immune system appears as the body’s own defense system. The human organism should primarily be protected against diseases.
Modern medicine divides the immune defense of the human body into both a non-specific immune defense and a specific immune defense. The skin , among other things, is considered to be an essential part of the non-specific immune system.
The non-specific immune defense is innate. The body’s own antibodies are regarded as part of the specific immune system. A specific immune defense is only acquired in the course of life. The medical benefits of the immune system have been repeatedly investigated in the past.
Medical & health benefits
A particularly high degree of attention has been paid to the immune system for several years .
This is how the immune system protects the human organism from dangerous substances. However, protection against substances foreign to the body can only be guaranteed if the immune system clearly recognizes the body’s own substances. This is the only way to prevent a defense reaction against the body’s own substances.
However, the immune system is not only responsible for recognizing foreign substances. In addition to recognizing, fighting foreign substances is one of the main tasks of the immune system. So-called antibodies are released to combat foreign substances. As part of the fight against foreign substances, the immune system develops a memory.
This memory helps the immune system to remember certain substances. As a result, the immune system can take particularly effective action against the foreign substances. Normal life would not be possible without an intact immune system. Nevertheless, there are always serious disorders in the body’s immune system. The consequences of a defective immune system are explained in more detail in the following explanations.
Illnesses, Ailments & Disorders
In principle, one’s own immune system is responsible for fighting foreign substances. These substances include tumors , among others . At the same time, however, bacteria and viruses are also regarded as substances that are foreign to the body.
It is not uncommon for the immune system to attack the body’s own substances. In this case, modern medicine speaks of an excessive immune reaction. As the result of an excessive immune response, allergies can manifest themselves. If, for example, there is a particularly high level of stress , this can lead to a disturbance in the immune system. At the same time, nutrition also has a significant influence on the immune system.
For this reason, vitamins should be at the top of your diet. In addition, the supply of trace elements must not be neglected. Both zinc and iron are regarded as particularly important trace elements . In the context of a wrong diet, one’s own immune system can be noticeably affected. The functionality of one’s own immune system cannot always be actively influenced. An immune deficiency is considered extremely dangerous. In most cases, an immune deficiency is congenital.
In modern medicine, a congenital immunodeficiency is also referred to as a primary immunodeficiency. If there is a congenital immune defect, the immune system cannot react to invading dangers. In most cases, the number of antibodies is below the required guideline values. If there is a congenital immunodeficiency, the affected persons must exercise a particularly high degree of caution. Otherwise, there may be an increased susceptibility to infection .
In addition to a congenital immunodeficiency, an acquired immunodeficiency is also described as extremely dangerous. In most cases, an acquired immunodeficiency is based on an underlying disease. An acquired immunodeficiency can occur following leukemia . Infections can also promote the occurrence of an immune deficiency. In the context of an acquired immunodeficiency, only a very small number of antibodies are produced. If your own immune system is weakened, you should visit an appropriate treatment center.
Hello! I am Lisa Newlon, and I am a medical writer and researcher with over 10 years of experience in the healthcare industry. I have a Master’s degree in Medicine, and my deep understanding of medical terminology, practices, and procedures has made me a trusted source of information in the medical world.