Regarding the Shocking Facts of the Human Immune System
The immune system is a complex system consisting of cells, tissues and organs that work together to protect the body against disease and maintain overall health. Even so, there are many surprising things you may not know about your body’s natural defense system. Check out the surprising facts about human immunity in this article.
How does the immune system work to maintain your health?
Through a series of steps called the immune response, the immune system will attack various antigens (foreign objects that enter the body) to protect the body from various diseases.
These antigens can be microbes such as bacteria, viruses, parasites, and fungi. Even other people’s body tissue that enters the body – such as when doing an organ transplant – can be considered as foreign by your immune system causing the body’s rejection reaction.
Well, the main key to a healthy immune system is when this system is able to distinguish between itself and foreign objects that enter the body. So, if an unrecognized foreign object enters the body, this system will carry out the self-defense process.
Did you know that the human immune system …
Now that you know how the immune system works, here are some surprising facts about the human immune system that you may not have known about.
1. Rarely wrong
For the majority of healthy people, the immune system or it can be called the immune system adapts by constantly changing and responding to new germs, be it viruses, bacteria, or parasites, every day. Continuous exposure to these germs makes the immune system continue to study germs and build strength to fight them.
However, in rare cases, people who do have chronic immune conditions such as primary immunodeficiency, their immune systems generally cannot fight off germs to the maximum. Well, this makes them susceptible to infection.
2. The intestine works as a gatekeeper for the body’s defenses
The largest part of the human immune system is in the digestive tract or intestine. According to Dr. Katarine Woessner, a specialist in allergy, asthma and immunology, the gastrointestinal tract is the part of the immune system that works the hardest. This section also continues to distinguish good and bad bacteria to maintain general body health.
3. The thymus gland plays an important role in the immune system
The thymus gland, located behind the sternum, between the lungs, is responsible for producing white blood cells or lymphocytes (T cells). Immature T cells are sent to the thymus for maturation and become a very important part of the immune system.
The thymus gland turns out to have a golden age, namely when we were children. Once we enter puberty, these glands will shrink and slowly become fat tissue deposits. Disorders of this gland in infants and children can cause the immune system to be compromised.
4. Humans can live without a spleen
The spleen is a large and important organ of the lymphatic system. Its function is to clean the blood from viruses, bacteria and other foreign objects in the body. Located behind the stomach and below the diaphragm, the spleen has many functions, including filtering out damaged red blood cells and storing white blood cells for the production of antibodies.
When the body fights infection, the spleen will temporarily enlarge. In theory, humans can live without a spleen, because our immune system has many ways to protect the body from pathogens.
5. Antibodies act as soldiers
When the body detects germs or foreign substances that trigger an immune system response, the body makes antibodies. Once the antibody is formed, then the antibody will remember the type of foreign substance and make a resistance so that the foreign substance does not attack again. The understanding regarding the function of these antibodies gave birth to a vaccination method in preventing certain diseases.
Keep in mind, to keep your immune system functioning properly, don’t forget to always wash your hands to prevent the spread of disease. In addition, making healthy lifestyle changes is the most effective way to keep the immune system working optimally. Some things you can do to maintain your immune system are getting enough sleep, exercising regularly, eating healthy foods, and avoiding stress.
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